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Light ARTiLLERy 



BATTERY D, 

First Rhode Island Light Artillery, 

IN 

THE CIVIL WAR. 
1861-186J. 



BY 

Dr. GEORGE C. SUMNER, 



A MEHIiHK OF THE liATTF.RY. 



Rhode Isi,and Printing Company, Providp:nck. 
1S97. 



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... a meeting of Batten^ D Association, held at Roger 
Williams Park, June 6th, 1891. the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted : 

! v'ED, That George C. Sumner is hereby appointed Historian of 

LiR .A^s(Jciation, and earnestly requested to UTite and publish a ?'■ '" 

RatterA- D, First Rhode Island Light Artillerj-. 



u-:' (lie Dosition, atiu .".! once com- 
ork. H' 'iid that 



he 

late ill 
capturt 
taking 1 
Corpor. 
which wa^ 



that office 
which faci 



PREFACE 



At a meeting of Battery D Association, held at Roger 
Williams Park, Jnne 6tli, 1891, the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That George C. Sumner is hereVjy appointed Historian of 
the Association, and earnestly requested to write and publish a History of 
Battery D, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. 

Comrade Sumner accepted the position, and at once com- 
menced to look up material for the work. He soon foinid that 
he had quite a ta.sk to perform. At the battle of Cedar Creek, 
late in the war, all the books and papers of the battery were 
captured by the eneni}', it thus became rather a tedious under- 
taking to hunt up facts and dates. Artificer Clark Walker and 
Corporal Knight had diaries of .some parts of their .service, 
which was about all the material on hand to start with. 

The Adjutant General's Office furnished considerable infor- 
mation. The Roster of the Batter}- was taken entirely from 
that office. The ' ' War Records ' ' was another .source from 
which facts and dates were collected. 



Comrade Sumner took a great deal of interest in this history 
and had a large part of it written when he was ' ' called away 
to join his comrades who had gone before." The death of 
our comrade made it necessary for some one to take up the 
work. It was impossible to fill his place, and when the writer 
agreed to take up the history and complete it, it was with a 
great deal of hesitation, knowing his inability to carry on the 
work, and not having time to devote to the proper carr^-ing 
out of Comrade Sumner's ideas. 

Comrade Sumner had a great man}- marginal notes attached 
to his manuscript which he was familiar with, but to another 
person they were not very plain. Without doubt he intended 
to add considerable to his manuscript, but on taking up the 
work I found it almost impossible to follow out what he had 
evidently intended to do, and came to the conclusion that it 
was best to publish it as he left it. I hope the comrades of 
the Batter^-and whoever else that reads this work, will remem- 
ber that the author was called away before he had time to even 
revise his original manuscript. 

Ver}- respectfull}-, 

Your obedient servant, 

A Comrade of the Battery. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Orcamzation — Camp Si'rai;uk, Wasiiin(;ion, D. C. — Winter Quar- 
ters AT Mcnsun's Hilt, Va. ....... i 

CHAPTER H. 

CaMI'AICN TU CeNTRE\TLLK — P\KI,MOrTH FRElJERlCKSIilRC — TllOR- 

0UGHF.\RE Gap — Rapidan River ....... 6 

CH.\PTER HI. 
Rappaiia.n'nuck St.atiu.n — Gkdveton — Bull Run (ur IMan.\.ssa.s) . 13 

CH.VPTER IV. 
South Mountain and Anitkiam 28 

CHAPTER V. 

P'rkderickshurg — Bell's I,.\ni>ini: — Hampton — and Trip th the 

Wesi ............ 40 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Campaign in East Tennessee 62 

CHAPTER Vn. 
The Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee 98 

CHAPTER VHI. 

Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania — The Campaign in 

THE Shenandoah Valley 125 



Roster 157 



Commissioned Officers 



Enlisted Men Commissioned 



Temporarily Attached Men 182 



CHAPTER I, 



Okcani/.ation — Cami' >Spka(U'k, Washington, I). C. — Winter 

OlARTKKS AT MUNSUN'S HiLK, \'A. 



AT the coniineiiceiiitnt of tht Civil War, in April, 1861, 
there was in the city of Providence, among other excel- 
lent military ors^anizations, one of light artillery, known as 
the Providence Marine Corps of Artiller>', which for years 
had been interesting and instructing the young men of the 
city and vicinity in the manoeuvres of this branch of niilitar\- 
service. A natural sequence of the presence of this company 
was to draw attention to this arm, and led Gov. Sprague to 
offer the government a fully equipped light battery, in addition 
to the First Regiment of lnfantr>'. The offer being accepted, 
a battery was speedily organized for three months .service, and 
on the 1 8th of April, six days after the firing upon Fort Sum- 
ter, it left Providence, fully equipped, for Washington. When 
it became evident that more troops and a longer term of ser- 
\'ice would be needed, CtOv. Sprague at once began the organi- 
zation of a regiment of light artiller>-. The .second battery ( or 
A, in regimental orders) was nuistered into ser\-ice June 6th, 
1861, for three \ears or the war, and left home for Wa.shing- 
ton June 19th. After which, at intervals of less than a month, 



a battery left Providence for the seat of war, until eight had 
been sent, which completed the First Regiment Rhode Island 
Light Artillery. 

Battery D was the fifth in number, but fourth in the regi- 
mental formation, that was recruited, its organization com- 
mencing immediately upon the nuistering of Battery C ( Aug. 
25th). Its quota was filled perhaps the most rapidly of 
any of the batteries, for by the 2d of Sept. it had its com- 
plement of men, and was sent to Camp Ames, on the Warwick 
road, just be>'ond Pawtuxet, where, on the 4th of vSept., it 
was mustered into the .service of the United States. 

On Sept. loth, the battery moved to Camp Greene, near the 
Stonington Railroad. While in this camp the men were uni- 
formed, divided into gun detachments, and drilled in the 
manual of the piece, marching, etc. 

On the 13th the battery left Camp Greene on the steamboat 
train for Stonington, under conuiiand of First Lieut. Geo. C. 
Harkness, the other officers being First Lieut. Henry R. Glad- 
ding, Second Lieuts. Stephen W. Fi.sk, and Fzra K. Parker. 
From Stonington it proceeded by boat to Elizabeth City, N. J., 
from which place it continued on by cars to M'a.shington via 
Harri.sburg, reaching its destination shortly after noon on the 
15th, and marched immediately to Camp Sprague, where Capt. 
J. Albert Monroe, who had just been promoted from First 
Lieutenant to Captain, and transferred from Battery A to 
Battery D, took command. 

The personnel of the compan>- was particularl>- well adapted 
for the especially acti\-e work appertaining to the successful 
manceuvering of light artillery. Its members were young ; 
.scarcely one in ten had reached his majorit>- ; most of them 
had left good homes, where they had received the advantages 
of a fair education, and except in rare instances their physiques 
were such that camp life and the exerci.se of the drill speedily 



developed endurance and suppleness. To no one was the pos- 
sibilities of this conunand more apparent than to Captain 
Monroe. His experience in the home compan>-, and three 
months of practical service with Battery A, convinced him 
that liere was material from which, by persistent liard work, 
and by a proper and judicial!}- administered discipline, there 
could be evolved a battery of light artillery whicli would honor 
itself and the vState from which it came : and he immediatelv 
proceeded to work for the accomplishment of that idea. Req- 
uisitions were speedily ol)tained for horses and guns, and the 
battery was .soon fully equipped, the battery consisting of four 
ten pound Parrotts and two twelve poiuid howitzers. Drilling- 
was commenced inmiediately, both field and the manual of the 
piece, and continued without ce.s.sation from the iSth of vSept. 
to Oct. iith, and such was the progress made by the company 
that at a review held on the 9th of Oct. , on the grounds back of 
the Capitol, of all the artillery in the vicinity, at which Gen. 
vScott was reviewing officer, the battery was complimented for 
the excellence of its movements. 

Oct. 12th Capt. Monroe received orders to report with his 
battery to Gen. Fit/. John Porter, near Hall's Hill, Va., and 
as soon as pos.sible the company commenced its first march, 
passing through Washington via Pennsylvania avenue, thence 
through Georgetown to the Potomac River, cro.ssing at Aque- 
duct Bridge. Hall's Hill was reached about 7 p. m., and the 
battery went into camp. Having no tents, the men were 
obliged to .spread their blankets on the groiuid, and had their 
first ta.ste of a field camp in \'irginia. 

Oct. 14th orders were received to report to Gen. McDowell, 
and the battery moved about three miles, to Upton's Hill. 
While here they were given their first impre.s.sions of war. It 
was intimated that the enemy was in the immediate vicinity, 
and were liable to make an attack at any time. Each night 



one section of the battery was sent out on picket. At no time 
in their service did they feel the responsibihty of their situ- 
ation more keenly than on these occasions, and not a rebel 
soldier within twenty miles. The two sections which were to 
remain in camp were obliged to work upon the earthworks 
with picks and shovels, an occupation they did not relish. 

Oct. 29th camp was moved just over Munson's Hill, on the 
north slope, and a camp laid out. under the direction of Capt. 
John Gibbon, who had assumed command of the artillery in 
our divi.sion. His own, Battery B, Fourth U. vS., was placed 
upon the left (instead of the right, as it should have been 
according to strict military etiquette, presumably because the 
ground was higher and drier). Our battery came next, then 
the First New Hampshire, Capt. Gerri.sh, and the Pennsyl- 
vania battery, Capt. Durrell, on the right. Tents of the Sibley 
pattern were now issued in place of the small A tents. These 
were circular in form, and large enough to acconnnodate ten 
or twelve men comfortably. When the weather became cold 
enough to require them, stoves were i.ssued, and when the 
tents were properly ditched, the bunks built and filled a foot 
deep with straw, they became very comfortable homes, even in 
the coldest of weather. We .soon had orders to prepare this 
camp for a winter's .sojourn. Details were made each morning 
to work upon the stables for the hor.ses, and in the course of 
a few days the finest camp in the history of Battery D was 
completed, and named Camp Dupont. 

■ The battery was parked in regular style, pieces in front, 
cais.sons in the rear ; on the right and left of them the stables 
were built. The tents for the men were pitched in the rear 
of the .stables. The officers' tents were in the rear of the 
battery, the Captain's being in a line with the centre of the 
guns, and two others, one on each .side of the Captain's, a 
little in advance, for the four Lieutenants. The cook-house 



was at the iipper end of tlie riglit tents, and the guardhouse 
was placed quite a distance in front of tlie ])attery. 

In this camp the liattery remained from Oct. 29th, 1S61, to 
INIarcli lotli, 1S62, occupyino" its time in drill, inspections, 
sham fights, target practice, etc. K\'er\tliing calculated to 
increase its efficiency was indulged in. Da>s were spent in 
perfecting the men in horsemanship. Hen^ic measures were 
u.sed : no saddles or 1)ridles were allowed ; men were expected 
to learn to manage their hor.ses successfulh' bareback, and 
with only the halter, and they did it, but there were man\- 
laughable and .some .serious incidents occurred l)efore they 
thoroughly ma.stered the art. 

The .sham-fights were particularh- exhilarating and entertain- 
ing to us, the whole corps, numbering fifteen or twenty thou- 
sand, participating in them, and l)lank cartridges were u.sed 
without .stint. A change of front would .sometimes necessitate 
a long run for the 1)attery, and if over open ground, was par- 
ticipated in with a relish ; but if. as it .sometimes happened, 
the route la>- through what had l)een woods, but had l)een 
fre.shl\- cut off b\' the soldiers, lea\-ing stum]is of irregular 
height, it sometimes became very annoying to the cainioniers, 
as the carriages struck first one stump and then another, 
throwing them about, making it very difficult to retain their 
places on the boxes. 



CHAPTER 



Campaign to Centrevule — Falmouth — Fredkkickshurg- 
Thoroi'Ohfare Gap — Rapidan River. 



FOR sonie time rumors had prevailed of a forward movement, 
but nothing of a definite nature occurred until March 
9th, when orders were issued that four days rations be cooked, 
and the battery prepared to march at an early hour the next 
morning ; the limbers of the pieces and the caissons were 
supplied with ammunition, and everything put in order for a 
campaign against the enemy. 

At an early hour on the loth of March, " boots and saddles'" 
was blow^n, the battery was speedih- hitched up, and in a short 
time Capt. Monroe gave the order, " Right piece, forward," 
and we moved out of park, from Camp Dupont, where we 
had spent four months, for the last time. The line of march 
was toward the Centreville Pike, and when we reached Baily's 
Cross Roads, a halt was made near the road until our turn 
should come to join the column. The entire Arm\' of the 
Potomac was on the march for Centreville, where the enemy 
was reported to be in force. It was several hours before our turn 
came, but at last we were ordered to move into the road, and 
commenced our march in earnest. It was a mo.st disagreeable 



7 

day, very cold, and a heavy mist prevailed, which soon wet our 
clothing ; the freezing temperature soon converted this moist- 
ure into a coating of ice, making it exceedingly uncomfortable 
for the men, particularly the drivers, who were obliged to sit 
their horses without any opportunit>' to warm themselves by 
exercise. 

Our progress was slow and tedious. vSix (j'clock found us 
in the \-icinity of Fairfax Court House, where we made camp. 
lCarl\- next morning we hitched up and had barely time to 
prepare coffee for ourselves, when we were ordered to join 
the cohunn, and proceeded on our way towards Centreville, 
but after marchitig about a mile we were ordered to make 
camp. 

It had lieen di.scovered b>' our advance that the enemy had 
retired upon our approach, and there was to be no opportunity 
to display- our \-alor. W'e remained in this camp until the 
15th. 

On the morning of the 15th, the army started on its return 
towards Washington. vSoon after starting it began to rain, and 
by noon the water was coming down in torrents, .soon wetting 
the men to their skins. The cohunn marched much more 
rapidly than they did when going out, they evidently hoping 
to find shelter at their old camps. 

About 7 o'clock p. .M., Batter\- I) turned into the dooryard 
of Mr. Cloud, at Cloud's Mill. Both officers and men were 
in a mi.serable condition, and they immediately set about 
impnn-ing it to the best of their ability. The fence in front 
of the hou.se was soon demolished, and a fire .started, around 
which all hovered until morning. During the forenoon of the 
1 6th we marched back to Camp Dupont, after an ab.sence of 
just one week. This .seemed like home to us, and we all felt 
that we would Hke to stay here for a while at least ; but that 
was not to be, for next morning we were ordered to proceed 



at once to Fairfax vSeminary, where we remained until April 
4th. While in this camp, on March 29th, our first batch of 
recruits, nine in number, were received from Rhode Island. 

At daylight on April 4th, the battery, with the First Divis- 
ion of the army, under Gen. McDowell, the rest of the Army 
of the Potomac having gone by tran.sports to Fortress Monroe, 
marched to Fairfax, and bivouacked for the night, early 
the next morning continued on to Mana.s.sas, remained over 
night, and at daylight next morning started on to Bristow 
Station. 

The weather on this trip up to this time had been plea.sant 
and fairly comfortable ; but on the night of the 8th there came 
a change ; it grew rapidly cold, and about 10 p. m. began to 
snow. Those of the men who were not frozen out and obliged 
to hover around the camp-fires, found them.selves covered by 
a blanket of snow about four inches deep in the morning. 

We remained at Bristow until the i6th, and then continued 
on the march to Catlett's Station, remaining one day, and on 
the 1 8th marched to within three miles of Fredericksburg, 
camping near the village of Falmouth. Some of our men 
started into the village and attempted to make small purcha.ses, 
but the people of the place were very loyal to the South, and 
at this early period of the war had great confidence in the 
Confederate money, and but very little in Uncle Sam's crisp 
greenbacks, and refused to take them in exchange for their 
goods. 

Now it .so happened that an enterprising firm in Philadel- 
phia had just issued a fac siiiiilf of the rebel money, of various 
denominations, and the men had purcha.sed .several thou.sand 
dollars worth, as curios. The.se were offered the rebellious 
tradesmen, and accepted with great glee, as an indication of 
the final success of their side, that the Yankees were already 
l)eing ol)liged to use their monew TheN' .soon discovered that 



the bills were not genuine, some one having pointed out to 
them the printer's name and location in the margin, and they 
refused to take any more, notwithstanding the Yankee cus- 
tomers assured them that the bills were worth just as much 
as the genuine. A complaint was made to head-quarters, but 
the general, after liearing both sides, decided that they were 
entitled to no redress. 

On the 19th the battery marched to a po.sition directly oppo- 
site Fredericksburg, on the north branch of the Rappahannock 
River. The gtnis were placed in position, pointing directly 
at the city, but the next day the pieces were limbered and a 
regular camp laid out, tents were pitched, and preparations 
made which indicated that we were to tarry here for some 
time. Drill received our vnidivided attention ; from four to 
six hours a day being given to that work, excepting on Sini- 
days, which were given up to in.spections of the men and 
material of the battery. Cleanliness was important, and was 
carefully looked after. 

On the loth of May the batter\- was ordered to move down 
to the bank of the river, near the railroad bridge, for the pttr- 
pose of protecting it from an expected attack of the enemy ; 
but they did not come, and things .soon quieted down and 
asstmied their normal condition, and the battery resumed its 
u.sual occtipation of drilling. 

The effect of such long-continued and constant work in this 
direction began to show itself in the accuracy with which the 
movements were executed. The efficiency of the battery 
began to attract attention, and almost every day when we 
reached the gromid where we were to have our field-drill there 
would be quite an audience awaiting us. Senators and Rep- 
resentatives from Washington, visiting officers, and distin- 
gui.shed people from all over the country, would be taken out 
to .see the show. 



As an illustration of how it impressed one individual from 
our own State, I quote from an article which he sent to the 
Providence Journal : 

"The proficiency attained by the .sturdy fellows of Battery D, is really 
surprising, and would do credit to a company of Cadets fresh from the 
rapid practice of West Point. I saw them yesterday, under command 
of Captain Monroe, performing the evolutions of field-drill with such 
accuracy as to connnand the admiration oi old army officers who were 
present." 

On the 26th of May the batter\' cros.sed the Rappahannock 
River into Frederick.sburg, and made camp on a common in 
the centre of the town, remaining- until the 29th. 

Ihiion soldiers were not welcome guests in that cit>- at that 
time, and the citizens took no pains to di.sguise the fact. Their 
manner towards us and treatment of us left no doubt in our 
minds that they wished we were anywhere but in their pres- 
ence. We did not mind it, however, and made our.selves just 
as much at home as though we were welcome. 

Early in the morning of the 29th the battery recro.ssed the 
river, and joining our division, commenced our journey for 
Thoroughfare Gap, for the purpo.se of aiding Gen. Banks, who 
was being badly pre.s.sed by the rebel Gen. Jack.son, in the 
Shenandoah \'alley. We made only a .short distance the first 
day, but did better next day, making nearly twenty-five miles, 
and reached Catlett's Station. 

On the 31st we marched only fotir miles, but pushed on the 
next, and reached Haymarket, near the Gap. 

June ist was a day of rest for us, but on June 2d the troops 
were early in motion, and after marching through the Gap 
were halted for an hour, then countermarched, passing tlirough 
the Gap, and encamped on almost the .same spot that they had 
left in the morning. 

This was a moN'emeut which at the time was verN' confusing" 



to us, but time developed tlie fact that the eniei'i^enc}- which 
demanded our presence in the vShenandoah \'alley had passed, 
Jackson lia\-in,i;' accompHslied wiiat he desired, and his troops 
beino^ wanted at Richmond by Oen. Lee, he had left the \'alle>-, 
and at the moment of our arrival at the Gap, was well on his 
way. Our sta\- at Haymarket continued for three days. 

On the 6th we had orders to move. Our destination was 
Warrenton, where we arrived after an easy march, late in the 
afternoon. Here we remained until the Sth, mox^ing on that 
date to Warrenton Junction, bivouacking^ for the night, con- 
tinuing on the next da>- towards Catlett's vStation, which we 
reached on the loth, and made a stay of four days. This 
trip was \'ery pleasant to us ; the weather was good, the roads 
were fair, our marches were not long, and the whole more of 
a pleasure trip through a rather interesting countr>-. 

June 15th we marched to Cannon Creek, and after remain- 
ing for five da>s we continued our journey to vSpotted Tavern, 
and, after a stay of forty-eight hours, returned to PVedericks- 
burg on the 23d, after nearly a month of marching, and made 
camp within a short distance of the old one, in which we 
remained until Aug. 5th, our time being occupied with the 
usual duties of camp life, drills, in.spections, etc. 

July 2d we turned in our battery of Parrotts and howitzers 
and drew one of light twelves or Napoleons. The.se guns 
were of brass, .smooth bore, and had fixed ammunition. The}- 
were of short range, which would necessitate our coming in 
clo.se contact with the enemy ; but the fixed annnunition would 
enable them to be fired much more rapidly ; and as they had 
the reputation of being very destructive when used at short 
range, the exchange was on the whole \-er\- acceptable to the 
men . 

July 4th was celebrated b>- a .salute in the morning, and 
repeating it in the afternoon. 



Aug. 5th the batter}-, with a portion of our Division, started 
on a reconnoisance towards the Rapidan River. Towards 
noon on the .second day out, a portion of our troops had a 
sHght .skirmi.sh with the enemy, but it was of .short duration. 

Early on the morning of the third day of the reconnoisance 
our cohmm countermarched, and marched rapidly towards 
Fredericksburg. Our cavalry were constantly .skirmishing 
wdth the eneni}-. When within fifteen miles of the town a 
regiment of infantry and our battery went into po.sition, but 
after firing a few shots the eneni}' fell back, and we rejoined 
the column. Continuing our march we reached our old can^^ 
on the Rappahannock Aug. 8, where we remained until 
Aug. 2 2d. 



CHAPTER III 



Rappahannock Station — Groveton — BuLi. Run (or Manassas). 



AUGUvST 2 2d Kino^'s Division to which Battery D belonged, 
left camp opposite Fredericksburg, it having been ordered 
to report with all possible haste at Rappahannock Station. The 
battery pulled out of park at daylight, and after a hard da>-'s 
march, made camp within eight miles of the station, some 
time after dark. \'ery early next morning as we were aroused, 
the battery hitched up, and everything made ready to proceed, 
we heard heavy and continuous firing, which indicated to us 
that some one was having a hot time of it. 

At 9 .\.. M. we were ordered to continue on to the station, 
which we reached about noon, remaining until dark. All the 
afternoon troops were continually recrossing the river and 
moving to the rear, and just before we left, the buildings around 
the station were fired. The light from this fire illuminated our 
way for some di.stance. At the station, and for a mile or so 
beyond it, as we pa.s.sed along the road, men were engaged in 
tearing up the railroad, lieating the rails and twi.sting them 
beyond an>- possibility of their being used again. 

Everything indicated that we had conmienced a retrograde 
movement, and the constant picket firing, which would 



14 

occasionally increase in \oluine, as tlionjj;^h a regiment or 
brigade had become engaged, with the added noise of cannon, 
told us plainly that the enemy were pressing our rear vigor- 
ously. 

In order that our situation may be fully understood, it may 
be well to give a brief description of the general military events 
of a few weeks previous to our arrival at the station. 

On the 27th of Jinie Maj. Gen. John Pope assumed com- 
mand of the Army of Virginia, composed of Fremont's, Banks's 
and McDowell's Corps, in all about 38,000 men. The first 
two of the.se commands were at Middletown, in the Shenan- 
doah Valley. Of the latter command, one division, under 
(rcn. Ricketts, was at or near Manas.sas Junction, and King's 
( to which Battery D belonged ) at Fredericksburg. It was 
the first intention of Gen. Pope to unite these widely separated 
troops, and in concert with Gen. McClellan, who was occupy- 
ing an advanced position on the Penin.sula, attempt the cap- 
ture of Richmond ; but in the interim between the assumption 
of this command l)y Gen. Pope and the uniting of his forces, 
Gen. McClellan had decided to retire from his advanced posi- 
tion, to the James River, at Harrison's Landing, which was 
accomplished after seven days of continuous and .severe fight- 
ing. 

The rebel commander. Gen. Lee, being relieved from any 
anxiety for the safety of Richmond, determined iipon a dem- 
on.stration towards Washington, and sent Gen. Jack.son with a 
large force to oppo.se Gen. Pope. The two armies met at 
Cedar Mountain, on the 9th of August. A severe battle was 
fought, resulting in the defeat of our army, which was driven 
from its po.sition at dark. 

It was .soon discovered by Gen. Pope that Gen. Lee was 
moving nearly his whole force from Richmond, for the pur- 
pose of cru.shing his (Pope's) army, and it was now deter- 



15 

mined by the authorities at Washington to transfer Gen. 
McClellan's forces from the Peninsula to the Potomac, as a 
reinforcement for Gen. Pope. 

On the 23d of August, the day the Ijattery arri\-ed at Rap- 
pahannock Station, Cicn. Longstreet had reached our front, 
and made an attack upon our troops at Beverly Ford. It was 
the firing from this engagement whicli had ))een .sounding in 
our ears all day. 

W'e continued our march well into the night. Just after 
midnight the battery pulled into a lot and halted without un- 
harnessing. The men were told to lay down near their pieces 
and get what rest tlie>' could. Ai)out daylight we were arou.sed 
and started on again, reaching W'arrenton about dark on the 
24th. Earl>- next morning the batter\- was on the road, and 
after a .slow, tedious march of fi\-e or six hours bivouacked at 
Sulphur Springs for the night, without unhitching. 

The evening of the 26th found us in the neighborhood of 
Waterloo Bridge. Twenty-four hours later we were on the 
Warrenton Pike, about half-way l)etween Warrenton and 
Groveton, wet through from a drenching rain which had pre- 
vailed for se\-eral hours. 

After a \ery uncomfortable night we took the road again on 
the morning of the 2Sth, headed towards Cxroveton. About 5 
p. .M. the batter\- m(^\ed off the road into a field upon the right, 
came into park, and, without unhitching, the men conunenced 
to prepare supper. 

Ju.st as Capt. Monroe and the other (officers, with Gen. King 
as their guest, had seated them.sehes at the camp-table, a 
few picket shots were heard on our left, followed almost 
innnediateh' 1)\' a considerable vollew (jCu. King inunedi- 
ately moiuUed his lujrse and started in the direction of the 
firing. Ca])t. Monroe ordered the dri\ers to mount, i)ut the 
Ijattery in motion down the pike, then gallo])cd on ahead ; soon 



i6 

he returned, gave the order "Trot, march," and, after going 
a short distance, turned the head of the cohimn towards a hill 
upon the left of the road. We had almost reached the base 
of the hill when a staff officer was seen coming over the top 
towards lis, waving his sword in the wildest manner and call- 
ing upon us to go back as quick as possible. He hurriedly made 
the Captain understand, but before oui; direction could be 
changed, we saw the lead horses of a rebel battery appearing 
over the brow of the hill — we were both after the same posi- 
tion and they had beaten us. Our direction was soon changed 
and we made every possible effort to get under co\er before 
they could do us much damage, but they succeeded in getting 
in a few shots, which, however, did us no damage. vSoon we 
reached a .sunken place in the road which afforded us protec- 
tion, and we were halted while Capt. Monroe .searched for 
a new position. After a stay of five minutes we were again 
ordered forward. About one hiuidred yards of our wa>- 
was fully exposed to the fire of the rebel battery. They 
took every advantage of it, and threw their .shells thick and 
fast at us. It did not .seem po.ssible that we could pass this 
exposed part of our journey without being .seriously dam- 
aged ; but notwithstanding the .shots flew around us, only one 
took effect, hitting the .stock of one of our cais.sons, breaking 
it and disabling the carriage and nece.ssitating its being blown 
up. Lieut. Parker was ordered to accompli.sh this, and 
although he was exposed to great per.sonal danger, both from 
the enemy's fire and the explo.sion, he .successfully accom- 
plished it. 

The battery soon turned from the road into the fields on the 
left, and with all possible .speed made for the top of a hill not 
far di.stant ; on reaching the top of which it came into battery 
and immediately commenced firing at the rebel battery which 
had taken the first position from us. 



17 

I quote from Capt. Monroe's account of this battle : 

" It was evident that we were in for it, and I hastened back to the 
battery, which started at a quick trot for a knoll that I had observed, 
and which appeared to be a good position. As the leading carriage 
reached the foot of the knoll an officer rode rapidly towards nie from its 
top sa^-ing, ' For God's sake, Captain, get out of this ; they are putting 
a battery right on this hill.' I lost no time, for I could see the horses of 
the rebel artillery above me, and we turned back to the road. We took 
cover in the road where timbers skirted both .sides of it for a short dis- 
tance. We were very uncomfortable here, for the battery that had stolen 
the hill from us knew our position, and at less than six hundred yards 
range, sent its shot and shell crashing through the trees and over them, 
exploding their shells directly above us. 

We were where we could do nothing, and I determined to run the 
gauntlet of fire that swept over the open road beyond the timber we were 
in, to another copse that would afford more shelter, and at the same time 
probably an opportunity to get our guns into action ; therefore the neces- 
sary order was given, and the battery passed over the .space intervening 
at a i-apid gallop. This movement resulted in few if any casualties to 
the men, but a shot struck the stock of a caisson, di.sabling it. To pre- 
vent its capture by the enemy it was blown up by Lieut. Parker. 

It had now grown quite dark, and the opposing lines were easily traced 
b}- the sheets of flame and flashes of powder pouring from each, while 
the positions were plainly discernible. The ground the battery had 
secured appeared in the darkness to be tmfavorable for the use of all the 
guns ; therefore two were posted in the road, where they had a flank fire 
upon both the infantry and artillery of the enemy. A captain of one 
of the rebel batteries engaged here told me several years afterwards that 
the guns away off to his left, which he had imderstood were those of a 
Rhode Island battery, inflicted terrible pimishment upon him, and that 
he lost more heavily in men, horses and material, than in any one 
action of the war. Considering that we had but two guns in this posi- 
tion, this was a high compliment to the efficiency of Battery D. 

Before or about nine o'clock the action was over. Its close was terrific : 
fire leaped in waves from the musket's mouth, and men .saw in the dark- 
ness the angrv flames ; bullets filled the air, or .struck with heavy thud 
a living mark, and men heard the cruel sound ; but neither fire, scream 
nor blow, nor the presence of almost certain death, ajipalled the Federal 
lines." 



i8 

Soon after nine o'clock the heavy firing ceased, and in a 
half hour everything was quiet, save occasional shots from the 
pickets. By ten o'clock the men were sleeping quietly, the 
drivers near their horses, and the cannoniers in their positions 
about the guns. 

About midnight a staff officer entered the batter>-, found 
the captain and ordered him to awaken his men, have the 
guns limbered, and mo\-e the command into the road with 
the least possible noise. Sergeants were awakened and sent 
around among the men, who were awakened with great care, 
and cautioned not to .speak save in a whisper. Everything 
about the harnesses and carriages which would rattle or make 
a noi.se of any kind was muffled. When everything was 
ready the battery started out of its position, and gaining the 
Warrenton Pike, took up its line of march back towards 
Gainesville. 

The explanation of this movement was, that our division 
commander had become \-ery much exerci.sed in his mind as to 
the wisdom of his remaining in this position, as it seemed to 
him untenable ; and as Gen. McDowell, our corps commander, 
was inaccessible, he decided not to remain. 

After-knowledge has made it plain that it would have been 
much better for our side if our position had been firmly held, 
for our army had the rebel Gen. Jack.son at such di.sad vantage 
and his supporting force, under Gen. lyongstreet, was .so far 
away, that in all probability had he ( Gen. Jack.son ) been 
assaulted b>- our combined forces at daylight, he would have 
been so disabled as to have been of no service to his side in 
the fighting of the two following days. 

Upon reaching the intersection of the Warrenton and Ma- 
nassas Pikes, ju.st beyond the village of Gainesville, the direc- 
tion of our march turned towards Mana.s.sas Junction, to which 
place we now marched, reaching there just as the day began 



19 

to dawn. The battery was parked without unhaniessini;, and 
the men allowed to prepare their breakfast. 

About the middle of the forenoon we left the Junction, tak- 
ing the vSudley road towards the old Bull Run battlefield. Our 
progress was slow and tedious, the road being filled with troops 
and wagon trains. As we neared oiu' destination we could 
hear the .sound of ]:)attle, which grew louder and .seemingh- 
more extended with every mile we traveled. Our halting and 
hitching-along progre.ss became very annoying to the men of 
Battery D, for it .seemed to them that with such delay it was 
extremely doubtful about their reaching the battlefield in time 
to be of an\- .service. 

About 3 p. M. we left the road and entered the fields at a 
.smart trot, and soon reached the "HenryHou.se" plateau, 
with the full expectation of immediately entering the fight : 
instead of which the captain indulged in a field-drill, for 
the purpose, as he has since said, of .satisfying him.self as to 
whether his men would remain " steady " with the immediate 
prospect of coming under fire. The result was entirely .satis- 
factory to him, and he has been plea.sed to .say since, "that 
after that experiment he would not have he.sitated to have 
marched through the whole Confederacy with tho.se men." 

Towards night we were ordered into a position on low ground 
between the vStone House and Dugen's, north of the Warren- 
ton turnpike, but after a few moments found that the position 
was untenable, becau.se of our own batteries, who, from a 
position on a hill in our rear, persisted in cutting their fuses 
so short that most of their shells exploded in clo.se proximit>- 
to us. 

From here we marched l^ack and took position on ver>- high 
ground, overlooking quite an extent of territory towards an 
unfinished railroad, where Jack.son had been fighting our troops 
.since morning. We were not near enough to take part, but 



could see the struggle quite plainly, and frequently the shot 
and shell from the enemy would strike or burst in close prox- 
imity to us. 

We now began to get our first impressions of what war really 
was, and soon became thoroughly convinced that it was very 
serious business. We had hardly settled down in our new 
position before wounded men began to pass through our inter- 
vals ; those with light wounds on foot, and the more seriously 
wounded were brought upon stretchers. 

This night we spread our blankets, and lay down in our 
positions, the cannoniers about the guns, and the drivers at 
their horses' heads, and were soon fa.st asleep. 

At daylight on the 30th we were awakened b}' picket firing 
upon our right, which in an hour or so increased into a con- 
stant roar of musketry and artiller}', wdiich, until about noon, 
seemed to be confined principally to our right, but soon after 
noon we began to see great clouds of dust on our left, and 
column after column of our troops could be seen hurrying in 
that direction, which indicated to us that trouble was brew- 
ing there. Batteries w^ere taken from positions near us, and 
hurried along with the troops, but we were allowed to remain 
in ours until nearly three o'clock, when we were ordered to 
move down to the Warrenton Pike, upon reaching which we 
moved along for perhaps a half mile in the direction of Grove- 
ton, then moved into a field upon the left of the turnpike and 
halted. We remained here for nearly an hour. 

It was in the neighborhood of four o'clock that a staff officer 
from Gen. McDowell rode up to Capt. Monroe, upon the full 
gallop, and, after a few hurried words had passed between 
them, the order "Forward, trot, march" was given. The 
battery was countermarched, and back we went, bearing off 
to the south of the pike, and making for a hill perhaps eight 
hundred yards distant. Upon reaching this hill (by name 



Bald Hill), we moved down about two-thirds of the way to 
the bottom, and there being a piece of level ground, we went 
into position. The ground in our front descended quite ab- 
ruptly for a hundred yards or so. At the foot of the hill a 
brook ran, in which at this time the water was very low, and 
when we reached our position the farther bank was occupied 
by a single battle line of our troops, consisting of two brigades 
of infantry. Gen. Milroy's independent brigade formed in 
line of battle in our rear. 

A great cloud of dust which we had been watching for some 
time coming from the direction of Gainesville, has finall}' 
reached our front, and we earnestly watch for the first appear- 
ance of the enemy. vSoon we notice a cloud of dust and con- 
siderable commotion upon a hill perhaps a mile away. The 
dust has hardh' settled when we see a puff of smoke, and in a 
few .seconds a case-shot explodes in our midst, we receive orders 
to open fire, and our .struggle has commenced. 

Our guns are short range, and we find it impo.ssible to reach 
the rebel batter}- ; but it became certain that rebel infantry 
are moving through the woods in our front, and we begin 
to throw shell and solid shot in their direction. Soon the line 
of battle in our front opens upon the rebel line coming through 
the woods, and a sharp and vigorous fire is kept up for a while, 
when the rebels charge our thin lines, which break and run 
up the hill towards us, passing through our intervals to the 
rear. 

Battery D is now face to face with the enemy, who have 
halted in the depression of the brook for the purpo.se of perfect- 
ing their alignment. Soon they make a rush for the battery, 
probably without the least doubt but that we will prove an easy 
prey ; but Capt. Monroe had drilled the men of that battery 
for nine months, and it had prepared them for just such an 
emergency as this. Every inan was perfectly familiar with 



his duty, and determined to do it. Guns were never served 
faster than were these ; round after round of canister is thrown 
into this mass of approaching rebels ; and it is thrown in such 
a manner that it is most effective, and more than the enemy 
can stand, and they fall back to the brook. 

While Battery D had been thus engag^ed. battery after bat- 
tery had been placed in position by the enemy, and these were 
now fillino- the air with bursting shell and case-shot ; but our 
position being so far down the hill about all of their shots 
went over us. 

Soon the enemy appear again, but this time their lines 
extending wa}' beyond both our flanks, the right and left pieces 
change the direction of their fire .so as to protect our flanks. 
We became anxious about our support, who ought now to be 
ready to a.ssi.st us, but a hurried investigation gives us the in- 
formation that they have left us to our fate — not an infantry- 
man is in sight save their commanding general and three or 
four of his staff officers. 

Gen. Milroy is .standing on his dead honse cheering us on, 
and his .staff officers are trying to help us work our guns. 
We appreciate their motives, but not being versed in light 
artillery duties, they are rather a detriment to us. In ju.stice 
to his brigade which has retreated, it may be well to take into 
consideration that they were in position .some thirt}' yards in 
our rear, which brought them well up the hill, and the>- were 
expo.sed to the artillery fire which was passing over us. 

To add to our trouble word is brought from the limbers that 
our cani.ster has been exhausted, and only a few rounds of .solid 
shot remain. We cannot do much execution with this kind 
of ammunition, but we keep it going at a lively pace. The 
enemy in our front .soon discover that we are not using can- 
ister, and taking advantage of it are fa.st approaching us. 
Will Capt. Monroe delay too long, and .shall we be obliged to 



23 

leave our guns as we have seen two batteries do just a few 
moments before? No; he has his eyes upon them, and we 
soon hear the welcome order, "Limbers to the rear." The 
limbers are whirled across the trail, the pieces are limbered 
and hurried away almost from the possession of the enemy! 

Lieut. Pardon S. Jastram, of Battery E, of our regiment, 
.saw the latter part of Battery D's engagement, and its with- 
drawal from its po.sition, and has described it in the following- 
story : 

The heat of the battle was over on the right of our line, at the second 
Bull Run, and we were watching the movements of the troops away up 
on the plains at the top of Bald Hill. Kearney was there with us, as 
well as a large number of officers and men of the line, all watching with 
breathless interest the operations of the contending lines clearly exposed 
to our view, save where a clump of timber hid a portion of the rebel 
line, and concealed what was going on. There was a line of our batteries, 
.supported by infantry, all heavily engaged in an effort to repel a deter- 
mined attack that the enemy's artillery and infantry were making. 

It was evident Lee had concentrated his efforts upon this point, and 
that he proposed to carry it by hurling all his available force against it. 
It was so plain from our standpoint that he would l)e successful that 
Kearney remarked, "You will .see a second stampede from this field 
before night." 

Slowly the reVjel line advanced, and rapidly the rebel artiller\- pouretl 
shot, shell and shrapnel into the Union lines, which .stood steady and 
unbroken, but all aglow from the rapidity of the fire streaming from it, 
which had a sulphurous hue as seen through the enveloping smoke which 
rose in the air and floated away in great clouds. Guns were served as it 
seemed the}- never were before. It appeared as if the heavens would be 
rent in twain by the thunder of the artillery and the discharges of the 
snuill arms on both sides combined. 

The rebel line never faltered, but continued to move on, notwithstand- 
ing the deadly havoc in its ranks. Finally came the charge, and, with 
yells that rang out clearly over the space between them and us, they im- 
petuously dashed upon the apparently firm, immovable line before them. 
The quickened fire of the artillery told tliat they were throwing can- 
ister with all their might and main, and if human jxnver, so far as those 



24 

men were concerned, could stem the approaching crest of glittering steel, 
they would do it. It looked as if it was an impossibility for any living 
force, however determined, to advance through that storm of iron and 
lead ; but the rebel line wavered for a moment only, then it gathered its 
strength again almost in the very second that it appeared to lose it, and 
with renewed ardor swept on. 

Our advanced line of infantr}-, occupying a sunken road in front of 
the artillery, broke and rushed pell mell through the intervals between 
the guns and limbers ; and the second line just behind the limbers of the 
batteries, joined them in their mad race to the rear, and down the hill. 
Double canister went from the well served guns, and great gaps appeared 
in the hotly charging line ; but it was onl}- for a few seconds, for in that 
brief space of time they were in among the guns and gunners, the latter 
seeking .safety in precipitate retreat ; there was nothing else to do except 
to remain and become prisoners. The guns were silent; they could hardly 
be seen on account of the great number of the enemy in among them. 
The drivers hastily mounted the horses of the limbers, and making a 
short " left about," hurried away with the fleeing cannoniers. 

Not so, however, the limbers of one battery: like lightning they 
dashed forward towards their pieces, and alnio.st in the twinkling of 
an eye, they emerged from the confusion in an unbroken line with a 
light twelve pounder attached to every one of them, the captain of the 
company proudly riding before, wildly waving his sword ! 

It was a bold movement, and evidently one the enemy had not antic- 
ipated, and so quickly had it been executed, he did not have time to 
realize it until the guns were beyond his reach. Except the men with 
these guns, not a Union soldier nor Union commander of any kind save 
in hasty retreat, could be seen on that, the south side of the Warren- 
ton Pike, while the rebel lines continued to increase in extent, and to 
advance as rapidly as formations could be made. 

Our interest was centered in the batter}', now all alone, entirely with- 
out support, and all expected to see it gallop to the rear and join the 
general stampede. To our infinite surprise, after advancing two hundred 
or three hundred yards to the rear, the captain again went into battery, 
as if, single handed, to defy the whole centre of the rebel army. The 
assurance of the battery commander, his effrontery and impudence, were 
as much of a surprise to the rebels apparently, as to us, and they seemed 
to be staggered for a few moments, as if in doubt whether or no our lines 
had reformed and were about to advance again. Their doubts were soon 



25 

dispersed, and they charjj^ed with such a dashing impetuous rush that 
apparently the battery could by no possibility escape. Again the horses 
and limbers plunged wildly forward, and it seemed as if the pintle-hooks 
of the limbers actually shot into the lunettes of the trails of the gun 
carriages. Before the charging line reached the ground that the guns 
stood upon and fired from, the battery was moving away at a smart 
trot : 

It looked as though the battery captain was now playing and trifling 
with the enemy, for when he reached the crest of the hill leading down 
into the valley, he went into battery again, to pay a parting compliment 
to the Johnnies, Init he failed to surprise them for a third time, and thev 
re.sumed their formation for a charge. The captain saw his danger and 
without firing a shot he limbered to the rear and coolly moved down the 
hill, where he was lost to our sight. 

Several of us were light artillery ofiicers, and we knew from our own 
experience on the drill ground and under fire, what skill must have been 
exercised by a battery commander in training his men and horses to 
enable him to handle his battery like a plaything in the face of over- 
whelming numbers of the enemy, and to take what would have been 
enormous and unpardonable risks with a command not almost absolutelv 
perfect in drill and discipline. 

vStich wa.s the manner Battery D retreated from it.s po.sition 
at the .second Bull Ritn. 

After limbering the piece.s a.s narrated in the preceding 
page.s, the battery mo\-ed down the hill, and, following the 
edge of the wood.s, .soon reached the Warrenton Pike, near the 
vStone Bridge. We found the road to be filled with wagons, 
part.s of batteries, infantry, cavalry, etc. We halted at the 
bridge and Capt. Monroe tried to get some ammtinition for the 
l)atter\-, but it was impossible to do so. The battery was now 
ordered forward onto the bridge, but the bridge at this time 
was blocked tip with wagons, etc., which we had to remove, 
and b\- the time we crossed it was qtiite dark. We moved tip 
the pike a]j(^ut half a mile and entered a field on the left, and 
remained there until about nine o'clock. We took advantage 
of this halt to ha\-e sujjper. While we were halted at the 



26 

bridge we supplied the battery with coffee, sugar, and hard- 
tack from an abandoned baggage wagon. Just before we 
reached the bridge there was a large number of camp-kettles 
that were filled w^ith corned beef. The fires were about out 
under them owing to the biillet holes that had let out the 
water from most of them ; but we found a number that were 
all right and took them along. We had a good square meal, 
which put us in first class condition. 

At about nine o'clock we were again put in motion, and 
reached Centre ville Heights about midnight, parked the bat- 
tery, unhitched the horses, without unharnessing, and the 
men lay down in a drizzling rain for a very much needed rest, 
and slept soundly until morning. 

Our stay on these heights was extended through the whole 
of Sunday, the 31st, and until nearly two o'clock p. m. of 
Sept. I St. We were then put in motion, and proceeded along 
the Centreville Pike towards Washington. We moved along 
very leisurely, and it was in the vicinity of four o'clock that 
we reached a point about half way between Centreville and 
Fairfax Court House, when our ears were again filled with the 
roar of volley after volley of musketry, seemingly not a great 
distance away. Our column was halted immediately, and for 
an hour or more we stood in expectation of being momentarily 
called upon. To add to the impressiveness of the occasion, a 
very severe thunder storm commenced about the same time 
with the engagement, and the noise of the thunder added 
to that of the battle, made it seem terrific. The rain fell in 
torrents, wetting us through in a few minutes, and increasing 
our discomfort. 

This engagement was the battle of Chantilly , and was brought 
about by the rebel Gen. Jackson's endeavor to intercept and 
cut our retreating column, moving along the Warrenton Pike, 
by marching via lyittle River Pike, a road which leaves the 



27 

Bull Run battlefield from a point near his position upon that 
field, crossing the Warrenton Pike near Fairfax Court House ; 
but the watchfulness of our cavalry had discovered the move- 
ment, and it was promptly frustrated. vSoon after dark the 
firing ceased, and the batter>' was moved into a field upon the 
right of the road, parked, and notwithstanding that the ground 
was thoroughly soaked, and the men wet to the skin, thev 
rolled up in their blankets and were soon asleep. 

Tuesday, Sept. 2d, we continued our march towards Wash- 
ington, reaching the vicinity of Bailey's Cross-roads about 
dark. Since the 2 2d of August, the battery had been upon 
the march day and night, not once had the hor.ses been unhar- 
ne.ssed, and they had been short of forage for most of the time, 
and it may be imagined were in a ver}' exhausted condition. 
The men were thoroughly u.sed up ; what with the excessi\-e 
duty, lack of rations, and the discouraging termination of the 
campaign, they were \-ery much di.sheartened. 

On our arrival in the vicinity of our old camp, at .sometime 
in the early evening, considerable cheering was heard down 
the road leading to Alexandria, which increased in volume 
as it approached. Our interest in the singular and unexpected 
demonstration drew us out into the road, and we could soon 
see in the growing darkness the approach of a large caval- 
cade, and by a clo.se inspection we were able to distinguish the 
form of Gen. McClellan. We immediately added our cheers 
to the others, and when a few moments later it was said that 
he had been reappointed to the command of our armies, our 
enthusia.sm was unrestrained. 

From Sept. 2d until Sept. 6tli, we remained in camp near 
our old camping grounds at Upton's Hill and Dupont. Each 
night a .section of the battery was sent out on picket, but 
nothing of importance disturbed us. 



CHAPTER IV. 



vSot'TH Mountain and Antihtam. 



ABOUT nine o'clock on the evening of Sept. 6th, the section 
on picket was called in, and as speedily as possible the 
batter}- packed up and started towards Washington, passing 
through the city towards midnight, and early on the morning 
of the 7th made camp abovit twelve miles from the city, on 
the Maryland side of the Potomac River, where we remained 
until the loth, when we marched to Lisbon. On the 12th we 
reached New' Market, continuing on to Frederick City the 
next day. Here the head of our column began to encounter 
the rebels, and on the 14th our troops fought a severe battle 
with them at South Mountain, and after persistent and hard 
fighting, succeeded in dri\-ing them over the mountain. 

Battery D was not engaged in this battle, but from its posi- 
tion, which was upon very high ground, the men had an excel- 
lent view of the engagement. 

IvCt us pau.se a moment, for the purpose of narrating the 
movements of the Confederate army, which had cau.sed this 
sudden departure of ours into Marj'land. After the check 
given to Gen. Jackson at Chantilly, Gen. Lee decided to invade 
Maryland. He hoped by this action to have his army largely 
recruited from the great number of Southern sympathizers in 



that vState, whom it had been said were only waiting for jnst 
such an opportnnit>' as tliis would give them, to join the Con- 
federate army. Gen. Jackson was ordered to march for the 
Potomac, and between the 4th and 5th of vSept. the whole Con- 
federate army had crossed into Maryland, and was encamped 
near Frederick, on the Monocacy River. Gen. I^ee issued an 
address to the people of Maryland, inviting those who were in 
.sympath>- with the vSouthern cau.se, to join the army ; but 
it fell flat, and he lost more by desertions than he gained b>- 
recruits from the Mary landers. On the 9th of vSept. CtCu. Lee 
i.ssued Special Order No. 119, in which he ordered Gen. Jack- 
son to proceed to Harper's Ferry, and oblige its surrender. 
Gen. Longstreet and the rest of the army were ordered to 
proceed to Roon.sboro, — thus his army was divided. Happily 
this order fell into the liands of Gen. McClellan, who acted 
upon its information immediately by following the main part 
of the Confederate army, attacking it and driving it over South 
Mountain down to Antietam, and it was late in the afternoon 
of the 17th before Lee's army was fully united. 

The morning of the 15th .saw Battery D upon the road again, 
and by noon we had reached the sunnnit of South Mountain. 
As we pa.s.sed along we .saw niunerous evidences of the .severe 
struggle. Many of the dead, both of our own and the rebel 
forces, lay by the road.side and in the fields, l)urial parties 
being then at work digging graves. 

During the afternoon we continued our winding way down 
the mountain, following the pike road which led throiigh the 
village of Boon.sboro, and went into camp just beyond the 
village. On the morning of the i6th we were hitched up and 
ready to move, but did not get the order to move until about 
noon ; when, pa.ssing through Keedy.sville, we followed the pike 
until near McClellan 's head-quarters, the vicinity of which 
we reached just before dark, and turning to the right cros.sed 



3° 

Antietam Creek, and after marching for sometime in a some- 
what circuitous route went into park about nine o'clock, with a 
number of other batteries. Our position was on cleared ground 
and on the summit of a commanding ridge, as we discovered 
next morning. 

As our infantry advanced to establish a picket line, they 
were met with a heavy fire, which convinced us that the eneni}- 
were in our near presence, and in large force. Their artillery 
shelled us continually, and the flight of the shells with their 
burning fuses, together with the flash of the small arms, made 
a very pretty display, but we were all glad when the exhibi- 
tion came to a close, just before ten o'clock. 

The teams were not unhitched, but the bridles were dropped, 
giving the horses an opportunity to feed. It was late before 
the horses were fed and the men had eaten their suppers, but 
finally all had disposed themselves for sleep, either upon the 
ground, or on the chests of the caissons, and were soon utterly 
indifferent to their surroundings and the prospects of trouble 
on the morrow. 

Just at daylight the next morning we were awakened b}- a 
shell that went screeching over the battery, and in a minute 
or two it was followed by quite a lively lot of them, but their 
elevation was just a little too high, and they passed over us, 
only one doing any damage. 

Cannoniers rushed to their posts, drivers to their horses : 
bridles were hastily slipped on, and in less time than it takes 
to tell it, were executing the movement " Action front, " in 
answer to an order from the Captain. As the men succeeded 
in rubbing their eyes open, and recovered from their astonish- 
ment, the}' looked about for an explanation of this disturbance. 
It was in the gra}- of dawn, and the few first raj-s of the rising 
sun had made it possible for us to see the surrounding hills. 
From one of these a battery or two of rebels had discovered 



our position, and gotten in the first blow ; but they had no 
idea what a hornets' nest they were stirring up, for it so hap- 
pened that upon that ridge there lay fotir batteries : upon our 
left lay Battery B, Fourth United States, upon our rear Battery 
L, First New York, and the First New Hampshire, and as 
quickly as possible every gun, twenty- four in number, was 
firing in reply to the enemy. 

Capt. Monroe says of this part of the action : 

" I have always tliouLrht that but one battery opened upon us, though 
others believe there were two or three opposed to us. Whatever number 
there was, they must have found their position a warm one, for the gun- 
ners of three of these (our batteries) could not be excelled for marksman- 
ship, estimation of distances, and all the good qualities which go to make 
a skillful gunner. The previous winter they had been exercised by Capt. 
Gibbon in firing at target, sighting, etc., and they had acquired great 
proficiency in these points. The fuses of the shell and case were accu- 
rately timed, and the projectiles burst where it was intended they should, 
among the guns and limbers of the enemy, who had stirred up a hornets" 
nest, and the hornets proved too many for him." 

After the rebel battery had retired, and the firing ceased, 
the men of Battery D had an opportunity to look about them, 
take in the lay of the land, etc. In our front the grotmd sloped 
gradually for several hundred yards, at which distance it was 
crossed at nearly right angles with oiir position by a siniken 
road, in which the rebel line of battle was posted. 

Immediately upon our left was a thin belt of woods, and 
beyond that an extensive cornfield, in which was done as stub- 
born fighting as was ever seen. During the whole day its pos- 
session was hotly contested ; first one side and then the other 
would occupy it, and so vigorous was the a.ssault, so brave the 
defence, that by noon it was possible to trace where the various 
stands had been made, by the continuous lines of dead and 
wounded, extending from one side of the cornfield to the 
other. 



32 

After the cessation of the artillery fire, the men of Battery 
D were kept busy replenishing the limber chests with ammu- 
nition, and various other duties, until about nine o'clock, and 
for an hour afterwards had a comparatively easy time. Two 
batteries in our line, Campbell's and Reynolds's, were moved 
from their position near us to a new one just beyond the woods 
in the edge of the cornfield, where they received very warm 
treatment. 

About ten a. m. one of Gen. Hooker's staff came to Capt. 
Monroe and ordered him to report to Gen. Hooker. After 
ordering the drivers to mount, and putting the column in 
motion, left in front, under Lieut. Fisk, Capt. Monroe .sought 
Gen. Hooker, whom he found at the front of our line of bat- 
tle, mounted upon a white horse, altogether the most conspic- 
uous object in that vicinity, and less than five hundred yards 
from the rebel line. As coolly as though in a drawing room, 
he pointed out to the Captain the position he desired him to 
occupy, and the work he wanted him to do. The position 
was upon the top of a slight elevation fully a hundred yards 
in front of our line of battle, and the work was the silencing 
of a rebel battery which had secured a position from which 
they had an enfilade fire upon our line of battle, which was 
very destructive. 

Upon receiving this order, Capt. Monroe returned to the 
battery, joining us ju.st as we had pa.s.sed through the woods 
and were entering the cornfield. Our passage through this 
field was nece.s.sarily slow, because of the impossibilit\' of mov- 
ing in a direct line in con.sequence of the great number of dead 
and wounded ; frequent stops had to be made for the purpo.se 
of mo\'ing them out of the way. 

Ju.st after cros.sing the vSmoketown road Capt. Monroe halted 
the caLssons and advanced the pieces a .short distance and gave 
the order " Form line advancing, trot, march," and soon ga\-e 



the order "In battery, action front," "Commence firing." 
This manoeuvre brought us upon level ground nearly in front 
of the Dunker Church, and about one hundred and twenty- 
five yards from the Hagerstown Pike. 

The battery that we were to silence was .south of the church 
on the east of the pike. They did not .seem to pay any atten- 
tion to us until we were fairly in battery, and had opened on 
them, then it was give and take for a few minutes. They had 
been firing at quite long range, and did not get their guns 
depres.sed so as to do us any damage, all of their .shots going 
over us. Our gunners were putting case shot in among them 
at a rapid rate, and .soon their fire slackened and in a little 
while cea.sed altogether. After the smoke had cleared away 
we found that they had retired, leaving one limber and .several 
dead men and horses on the ground they had occupied. 

We stopped firing and watched a brigade of our infantry- 
which was going into position on our right and rear. They 
moved to the right until they were on a line with our right piece, 
and then faced to the front and charged into the woods just to 
the north of the Dunker Church. In the meantime we began 
to get a few minie balls from the south of the church, and sent 
back a few shells ; but we .soon had orders to cease firing, as 
there was some doubt about whether the brigade that had just 
pa.s.sed into the woods had not moved to that side of the church. 
It was not over six or eight minutes before volley after voile}' 
was fired in the woods just behind the church, and the brigade 
which had charged into the woods but a few minutes before in 
such dashing style now came pouring out in a confu.sed mass. 
They had run into a large force of the rebels and could not 
hold their ground. 

We expected now to get the order to limber up and move to 
the rear ; but instead, we were ordered to " Commence firing." 
Up to this tiine we had lost but two men and two or three 



34 

horses. We directed our fire into the woods in our front, and 
in a few minutes we saw a hne of rebels coming through the 
woods just to the right of the church. Knowing that if that 
line was not stopped that Battery D was in a bad place, as they 
would flank us on the right, and the ground to our left was 
such that we could not get out that wa}-, we sent round after 
round of canister at them in quick succession, and had the 
satisfaction of seeing the line waver and then break and return 
to the woods. 

We were now feeling that we had things our own way again, 
but the minie bullets were beginning to come again, not so 
thick as before, but with a great deal of accuracy, and we .soon 
found, that although we had dri\'en the main line back, in the 
meantime quite a number of sharpshooters had dropped into 
the depression on the east .side of the pike, and also behind a 
pile of rails on our right not over seventy-five yards away, and 
were making it very uncomfortable for us. The right piece 
of the centre section had three number ones shot down before 
they could load their piece, and had lost every man but Corp. 
Gray and private Mills. The piece was finally loaded, and a 
shell was sent into the pile of rails, which must have done 
some damage. The right piece had lost every horse on its 
limber, and the other pieces were suffering losses in men and 
horses. 

It was now apparent that it was time for us to fall back if 
we wanted to save our battery. Capt. Monroe .soon gave the 
order, and we fell back to Mumma's house, just under the hill 
to our rear. We had to leave one piece, but lyieut. Fi.sk .soon 
returned with .some men and the piece was taken to the rear 
with the prolonge, leaving the limber, which was recovered 
next day. 

The battery .soon moved back to the position we occupied in 
the morning, and replenished our ammunition. Lieut. Parker 



35 

went on a hunt for horses to replace those that were killed 
and wounded. He succeeded in getting^ horses enough so that 
we were in shape to move at a moment's notice. 

In this battle our battery last four killed, sixteen wounded, 
and two missing ( six of the slightly wounded staid with the 
battery). We lost thirty-eight horses. Capt. Monroe's horse 
was shot six times. 

Capt. Campbell, of Battery B, Fourth Ignited vStates, having 
been severely wounded, Capt. Monroe succeeded him as Chief 
of Artillery, and the connnand of Battery D pas.sed to Lieut. 
Fisk. 

The afternoon was well ad\-anced when an order was received 
that we take position " In battery " along the ridge occupied 
by us in the early morning, and with us went four other bat- 
teries, making twenty-nine guns. Every officer was ordered to 
keep a sharp lookout, and at the first indication of an attempt 
by the enemy to place artillery in position, all the guns in that 
line were to commence firing, concentrating their fire upon 
that .spot. 

About five o'clock a horseman was seen to ride over the hill 
from which the rebel battery had .shelled us in the morning, 
followed almost immediately by the teams of a battery, and 
rapidly making the left about, drop their pieces into battery, 
but before they had fired a shot, twenty-nine projectiles of vari- 
ous kinds and .sizes were flying towards that unfortunate bat- 
tery, creating, a few .seconds later, the greatest consternation, 
as they exploded among the pieces and limbers ; round after 
round followed in quick succes.sion, and that battery beat a 
hasty retreat. Other batteries tried to maintain the position, but 
it was of no u.se ; our fire was too frequent and well directed for 
anything to live upon that hill for any length of time. Orad- 
ually it became more and more quiet, .so that by nine o'clock 
all firing had ceased, .save an occasional picket shot. 



36 

Battery D remained in position. Through the night rumor 
had it that we had practically destroyed lyce's arm3% and that 
it only remained for us to up and at him in the morning, to 
drive him into the Potomac. But the next morning we were 
very much surprised at the entire absence of noise ; instead 
of the roar of battle, we could not hear even the noise of a 
single picket gun. Our curiosity kept us hunting for a reason, 
until it was ascertained that we were under a flag of truce. 

All day long we lay in our position, expecting that the truce 
would end, and we should resume the fight. During the fore- 
noon we took advantage of the inaction to recover the limber 
left on the field, visit our wounded in the hospitals, refitting 
our disabled pieces, caissons, etc. , and at last night closed in 
without our having fired a shot. This was not entirely satis- 
factory to us, for although we were not actuall}' starving for 
a fight, still the impression of all, even the privates, was that 
we had our enemy at great disadvantage, which we were b>- 
this delay losing. 

On the morning of the igth of Sept., the battery was early 
prepared for an advance movement, but it was nearly noon 
before w^e moved out of park. Since early morning we had 
seen troops moving forward along the Hagerstown Pike, and 
were momentarily expecting to hear the roar of battle, but not 
a sound reached our ears until near the middle forenoon, when 
distant artillery could be heard. What has happened ? Soon 
mounted messengers returned at full speed to McClellan's head- 
quarters, and the mortifying intelligence is given that there is 
no enemy in our front. Gen. lyce having taken advantage of 
the darkness of the night and moved his entire command across 
the Potomac at vShepherdstown Ford. 

It is well that it was not possible for Gen. McClellan to hear 
all that was said of him by the .soldiers of his army when this 
was fully understood b}- them ; the feeling that here was one 



37 

more illustration of the superior generalship of the enemy was 
very depressing. 

iVbout 12 o'clock our battery pulled out of park, moved 
across the fields to the Hagerstown Pike, and started towards 
vSharpsburg. Our route carried us along that part of the road 
over which there had been such a fearful struggle on the 17th ; 
nothing had been disturbed ( except that the wounded had been 
removed ), but lay just as it had been left on the evening of that 
day. As we reached that part where the cornfield was upon 
our left and the Dunker Church upon our right, the sight 
became sickening, even to men who had become inured to 
such .scenes, for there lay within the reach of our vi.sion hun- 
dreds, yea, thou.sands of dead, just as they had fallen, swell- 
ing into most horrible shapes, twice their natural size, and 
mortification, which had been hastened by a light rain on 
the night of the i8th, atid a very hot sun on the morning of 
the 19th, had turned the exposed parts of the bodies black. 
We were glad when we had pas.sed beyond the battlefield. 

It was our impression that we had started in pursuit of the 
enemy, but that was .soon corrected, for before we reached 
Sharpsburg we were ordered into camp, upon ground which 
had evidently been occupied very recently by the rebels, as 
was made plain to us by the debris which lay around, and em- 
pha.sized by large numbers of a certain kind of live stock, 
which for some rea.son ( probably an over-crowded condition ) 
had left them, and now proceeded to fasten themseh'es upon 
us, much to our discomfort. 

On the 20th our camp was moved to a more acceptable place, 
and we remained in it just one month. 

Oct. ist President I^incoln visited the army, and remained 
four days. During his stay a grand review was held of the 
Army of the Potomac, which had been increased to nearly 
150,000, and was in superb condition, while Lee was at Win- 



3^ 

Chester, Va., with his ami}-, reported to be in a wretched con- 
dition ; still McClellan did not show any disposition to move 
upon him, notwithstanding he was urged time after time by 
the President to do so. 

All through October the weather was of the finest, just such 
as was needed for a campaign, but all through the month Gen. 
McClellan was inactive, and it was not until Nov. ist that he 
was ready ; then he moved, but it was too late, for on the yth 
there was a heavy snowstorm — winter had commenced, and 
now movement would be necessarily .slow and tedious. His 
opportunity had been thrown away. 

Oct. 2oth Battery D left camp near Sharpsburg and marched 
to Baker.sville, going into camp with our Division Artillery, 
where it was said we were to quarter for the winter ; but at 
two o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th, orders were received 
to pack up, and we were soon on the march again, which was 
continued until nine o'clock, through a drenching rainstorm, 
and finall}' made camp in a plowed field, which was very incon- 
venient for men and horses, as the mud was ankle deep. 

On the 28th, our march was confined three or four miles, 
and we made camp near Crompton's Pass. The next day we 
continued on, went through the gap, and camped near Knox- 
ville, Md. We remained here over the 29th. 

A new disease had broken out among our horses, three- 
quarters of them having swollen tongues, and so badly affected 
that their tongues would protrude from their mouths, render- 
ing it impossible for the poor animals to eat their grain or hay ; 
and added to this, a hoof disease, caused by their being so con- 
stanth' in the mud, had become so bad that in man}' cases the 
hoof nearh' rotted off, necessitating the shooting of a consid- 
erable number of them. 

Oct. 30th we crossed the Potomac into Virginia, at Berlin, 
and next da}- commenced our pursuit of the rebel army, with 



39 

a four gun battery, being obliged to leave two of our guns 
because of lack of horses. 

From the 31st of October to the 6th of November, we con- 
tinued our march, reaching Warrenton on the afternoon of 
the 6th, where we remained until the nth. 

On the 7th the battery was ordered into po.sition, expecting 
an attack. A furious snow storm prevailed all day, making 
us very uncomfortable, and as we were without tents, we were 
obliged to depend entirely upon our blankets for protection. 

On the lotli it was officially announced that Gen. McClellan 
had been relie\-ed from command of the army, and Gen. Burn- 
side appointed to succeed him. Their addresses, one of fare- 
well and the other a.ssuming command, were read to us upon 
parade that night. 

Towards the last of October Capt. J. Albert Monroe left us, 
having been promoted to Major of our regiment, and assigned 
to duty at Washington. He was a .strict di.sciplinarian and a 
thorough and efficient drillmaster. Early in November Major 
Monroe was a.s.signed to the duty of organizing and command- 
ing the Artillery Camp of Instruction at Washington, in which 
duty he made a national reputation as an artillerist of the first 
order. 

Lieut. Fisk, Ijeing the senior officer present, had command 
of the battery from a short time after Antietam until our arrival 
at Baker.sville, when Lieut. Harkness, having returned from 
his sick leave, assumed command. 



CHAPTER V. 



Fredericksburg — Bell's Landing — Hampton- 
AND Trip to the West. 



ON the I ith of November the battery marched to Waterloo, 
remaining until the 17th, and then continued on to Mor- 
ristown. Here it was again rumored that we were to go into 
winter quarters, and a removal on the 19th into a fine grove 
rather strengthened our belief that there was some foundation 
for the rumor ; but orders which were received late on the 21st 
that we were to be ready to move early the next morning, 
settled effectualh' the winter camp question at this place. 

Next morning the batter}- made an earl}- start, and at night 
reached Brook Station, on the Fredericksburg & Aquia Creek 
Railroad. The weather was perfecth- horrible, a cold drizzling 
rain prevailing all day long, made the march very disagreeable. 

Our stay here was extended until the 7th of Dec. Twice 
during that time we received marching orders, but heavy snow 
storms necessitated their being countermanded ; but on the 7th 
we started, but after marching four or five miles we reached a 
hill so steep and icy that the horses were unable to pull the 
carriages to the top, and we made camp upon the hill with our 
pieces and caissons strung along from the top to the bottom. 



41 

The next day we managed to get over the hill, and continued 
on to Fredericksburg. On the 9th we moved to a position 
opposite the cit}', and made camp. 

Gen. Burn.side, upon assuming command of the army, with 
the con.sent of Gen. Halleck, abandoned Gen. McClellan's 
plan, which was, by a rapid march upon Gordon.sville, to inter- 
pose between Gen. Lee's divided forces (he having sent Gen. 
Longstreet over the Blue Ridge to resist the Union advance 
upon the Confederate capital), and beat them in detail, and 
adopted a new plan of operations. The capture of Richmond, 
rather than the destruction of Gen. Lee's army, was to be his 
objective. 

The Union army at this time was 120,000 strong. vSome 
precious time was wa.sted in its reorganization. Instead of the 
old corps formation, it was now organized into three Grand 
Divisions, each con.si.sting of two corps. Gen. Sumner was 
placed in coramand of the right. Gen. Franklin of the left, and 
Gen. Hooker of the centre, and a large reserve commanded by 
Gen. Sigel. 

The plan as stated by Gen. Burn.side was to concentrate the 
army at Warrenton, make a feint of crossing the Rappahan- 
nock, leading the enemy to believe that an attack was about to 
be made upon Gordonsville, and then mo\-e the whole army to 
Frederick.sburg, and thence march rapidh' upon Richmond ; 
but here again some one blundered. To cro.ss the Rappahan- 
nock, it would be nece.s.sary to construct pontoon bridges. Gen. 
Burnside suppo.sed that the matter had been fully attended to, 
and that the pontoons would be on hand at the time of his 
arrival, Nov. 15th ; instead of which it was the 25th of the 
month before they arrived, and the loth of December liefore 
things were ready for throwing the bridges across the ri\-er. 

In the mean time the enemy had discovered the plan, and on 
the 2 2d Gen. Burnside and his divi.sion connnanders had tlic 



42 

mortification of seeing the opposite heights covered with the 
enemy's batteries, and filled with his infantry. Gen. Ivee's 
arm}', some 80,000 strong, had all been brought up, and it lay 
in a semicircle around Fredericksburg, each wing resting on 
the river — its right at Port Royal below the city, and its left a 
short distance above it. 

On the loth of December, everything being ready. Gen. 
Burnside gave orders that the bridges should be thrown across 
at an early hour the next morning ; three were to be con- 
structed immediately in front of Fredericksburg, and two a 
couple of miles below. The morning of the iith was cold 
and raw, a dense fog prevailed, amid which the work com- 
menced. 

The heights upon the Falmouth side were close to the margin 
of the river, which at this point is about three hundred yards 
wide. Upon these heights there were placed in position one 
hundred and forty-seven guns. The bridges below the city 
were laid without much opposition ; but in front of the city a 
galling fire, from behind stone walls and from windows, was 
opened upon the bridge builders, driving them back, and efi'ect- 
ually preventing further work upon them. 

About six o'clock another attempt was made, with the same 
result. Then Gen. Burnside ordered the guns mounted upon 
Safford Heights to open fire upon the city, and batter it down 
if necessary. More than a hundred guns responded inmiedi- 
ately to the order, and a roar commenced which could be 
heard miles away, and that fairly .shook the earth, lasting 
nearly three hours. 

In the midst of this firing another attempt was made to lay 
the bridges ; but, strange to say, there still were sharpshooters 
to oppose them, and they were obliged to fall back ; then vol- 
unteers were called for to cross the river and drive the enemy 
out of their hiding places. Three regiments responded to the 



call, were quickly conveyed across, and in a brief space of time 
the sharpshooters were driven away, nearly a hundred of them 
being made prisoners, and the bridges laid. 

Before dark vSumner's and a few of Hooker's Division had 
crossed to the south side of the river. Considerable skirmish- 
ing occurred as the troops forced their way through the city 
and out upon the plains beyond. 

Early on the morning of the 12th, the re.st of the army 
cro.s.sed. and Battery D went with it. Our progress up the 
streets from the river was extremely dangerous, from the fact 
that the enemy had a perfect range, and succeeded in ricochet- 
ing .shot after shot down the very centre of the street, obliging 
us to u.se the sidewalks. Occasionally they would explode a 
.shell vuicomfortably clo.se ; but we succeeded in reaching the 
upper part of the town without any .serious casualty. Here we 
.sought protection behind a large stone warehouse, where we 
remained all day, and until before light next morning, when 
we were mo\ed up nearer the enemy. 

All day of the 13th we lay under fire, protected by build- 
ings. The enemy shelled Frederick.sburg all the morning, and 
about noon the order was given for our infantry to advance 
upon Marye's Heights. The mist had cleared, and every move- 
ment of our troops could be distinctly seen by the rebels upon 
the heights. Then conunenced a mo.st furious cannonading, 
followed in a few moments, as our troops reached the stone wall 
at the foot of Marye's Hill, by volley after volley of mu.sketry. 
So terrific was the fire from Marye's Hill that our artillery 
could not be advanced, and the infantry had to fall back. 

The men of Battery D were soon convinced of the terrible 
work that was going on in front, from the great numbers of 
wounded which pa.ssed them, going to the rear. In fifteen 
minutes, of the 5600 led into battle by Gen. Hancock, 2000 
were di.sabled. All da>- and until nearly dark on the 14th our 



44 

battery remained in the place we had moved into in the 
morning. 

Just before dark we were ordered to move forward across the 
plain to the left of the city and shell the works on Marye's 
Heights. We came into position on the edge of an embank- 
ment which was at least five or six feet high. We placed our 
pieces in position and then took our limbers and caissons back 
under the embankment, and when all was ready, we opened 
with a will. We thought we had quite a snap on our enemy, 
but in about three minutes the}' convinced us that we had 
" barked up the wrong tree," for they just sent in a shower 
of shells and minies that made us seek cover. We laid close 
to the embankment until they let up, and then loaded all our 
pieces and gave them a broadside. We fired two or three 
rounds, and then they had their turn again ; this was repeated 
three or four times ; but at last we were denied the privilege 
of even getting in a round or two, as their fire was kept up 
for a long time, and they were putting their .shells just in the 
right place. We afterwards found out that they had platted 
the ground in their front, and knew to a nicety everj- position, 
and could drop a shell into anj^ of them ; and then it became 
apparent to all of us that we were not wanted there anyway, 
so we limbered up and retired to the lower part of the city. 

Here we remained until two o'clock in the morning of the 
15th, when we recrossed the river, and returned to our old 
camp. By daylight all our army had recrossed the river to the 
Falmouth side, and the battle of Fredericksburg was over. 

Battery D, although under fire all the time, did not become 
engaged, .save in this .single instance, and was but little injured 
— First Sergeant R. Henry Lee's wounded hand, and a broken 
stock of a caisson being our only casualties. 

Capt. W. W. Buckley, who had been promoted from First 
lyieutenant to Captain on Oct. 30th, and assigned to Battery 



45 

D, reached our camp on Dec. loth, just in time to ]xarticipate 
in this fight. 

Dec. 17th the battery was moved about a mile and a half 
back from the river into a grove, and began to build winter 
quarters. A cellar about a foot deep, .six feet long and four 
feet wide, was first dug ; this was fixed aromid with pine .slabs, 
dirt was then tamped around the outside of the slabs, a ridge- 
pole was raised in the crotch of two upright poles and covered 
with our .shelter tents, and a mud chimney was built on the 
out.side, the tent being tacked tightly around the fire-place. 
We had a bunk on either side, rai.sed from the ground and 
filled with boughs. When the.se houses were completed and 
\ve had built good rousing fires in the fire-places, we were just 
as comfortable and happy as it was po.ssible for .soldiers to be. 

From this time to Feb. 6th, 1863, ovu' time was occupied in 
performing the ordinary duties of the .soldier, such as drills, 
having in.spections, etc., varying the operations between Jan. 
loth and 21st, by being under marching orders for the purpo.se 
of crossing the Rappahannock River on an expedition against 
the rebels. 

Gen. Burnside desired to redeem, if po.s.sible, the di.sa.ster 
which had befallen the Union army, and he originated a new 
plan, the purpo.se of which was an immediate advance upon 
Richmond. His plan was to make a feint above Fredericks- 
burg, and to cro.ss with the main body six miles below. A 
large force of cavalry with four guns was to cross at Kelly's 
Ford, push towards the Rapidan, destroy the railroad and 
bridges in the rear of Gen. Lee, traverse \'irginia, and join 
the Union garrison at Suffolk. 

This movement was stopped by order of the President, rep- 
resentations from di.ssatisfied officers had had their effect, and 
Gen. Burnside was ordered not to make the movement. 

By Jan. loth the plan had been changed. It was now pro- 



46 

posed to cross the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, flank 
the enemy and force a battle. The President gave his permis- 
sion, and the troops were placed under marching orders. The 
pontoons were brought up to the vicinity of Banks' Ford, and 
everything made ready to throw the bridge across the swollen 
river. Most of the army had been brought up to the vicinit>' 
of the ford, and it was contemplated to make the movement 
on the morning of the 21st of Jan., but on the evening of the 
20th a fearful storm of wind, sleet and rain came on, such as 
is seldom seen in that region, which continued all night, and 
when morning came the entire country had been converted 
into a vast bed of mud, and for hours the troops were hope- 
lessly mired — it was impossible to move in either direction — 
every attempt to move only sank the wheels of the artillery 
and of the wagons deeper into the soft stick}- mud. Orders 
were finally issued to the troops to return to winter quarters, 
and what is known as the " Mud March " was ended. 

Battery D was fortunate enough not to have left its camp 
on this occasion ; for ten days we were hitched up ready to 
move at a moment's notice, but happily were not called upon, 
and thus escaped a most disagreeable epi.sode. 

Stormy and cold weather prevailed during the last week of 
January, but as we were comfortabh' hou.sed, rations plenty, 
and duty light, we managed to get through it without much 
discomfort. 

February came in like a lion — the 2d was very cold, the 3d 
still colder, and on the 4th the men could do little else than 
sit by their fires, the cold was so intense. 

On the 6th orders were received to pack up as soon as pos- 
sible, and be ready to march in an hour. About eight o'clock 
the battery moved out of our winter camp and took up its 
line of march in a cold drenching rain, towards Bell's lyanding 
on the Potomac River, distant about twelve miles. The roads 



47 

were exceedingl>- inudd}-, so that our progress was necessarily 
very slow ; the \'er>' best we could do was about six miles on 
the first day ; the pieces and caissons would become fast in the 
mud, and we would have to double our teams to pull them out. 
Our condition may be imagined — tired out, wet through, and 
no way of protecting ourselves from the cold storm, which con- 
tinued through the night. 

We succeeded after great difficulty in pulling our pieces and 
caissons through to the landing on the next day ; but the bat- 
tery wagon and forge not having arrived, six teams of horses 
were sent back after them, and they were found about five 
miles back, the forge being bottom side up in a creek, having 
run off the bridge the night before. We finally got it on the 
road and hauled it and the battery wagon to camp. 

About two o'clock in the morning of the gth, the men were 
aroused, and commenced loading the battery on canal boats. 
At nine o'clock the loading of the battery was completed. The 
boats were .shoved out into the stream and anchored until four 
o'clock in the afternoon, when a steamer took our tow-line and 
towed us down the ri\-er a few miles, where we again anchored, 
and remained until the nth, when we continued our journey ; 
but about noon it commenced storming, and we put into St. 
Mary's Bay for a harbor. All day of the 12th the storm con- 
tinued, and we remained in the harbor. 

Within a hundred yards of where our boats lay, were .some 
immen.se rocks, and at low tide large numbers of oysters could 
be .seen clinging to their sides. Permission was given that the 
men could use the small boats to gather them, and .soon large 
quantities were .secured, and, as it may be imagined, to men 
who.se diet had been principally " .salt junk " and pork, this 
change in their diet was \-ery acceptable. 

The 13th opening clear and plea.sant, an early start was made, 
and we moved on down to the mouth of the river, but the bav 



48 

was found to be so rough that it was not considered safe to 
attempt crossing it, and we made harbor until three o'clock in 
the afternoon, when the wind having gone down, we started 
again towards Fortress Monroe. We reached Hampton at 
daylight, and immediately disembarked. The next daj^ we 
went into camp near Hampton. 

Hampton at this time was in ruins. When the rebel Gen. 
Magruder evacuated the place, he burned it, hardly leaving a 
house standing. It must have been a beautiful place before 
the war, but at the time of our arrival it had been given over 
to the negroes, who had built huts out of the ruins, and were 
taking life very easily. 

One enterprising darkey had established an oyster house, 
and as soon as we were in camp he solicited our trade, but as 
we had not been paid in some time, about everybody was 
"broke;" we did have some "Kalamazoo" greenbacks, but 
they had lost their value. We felt that our constitutions 
needed a change of diet, and oysters were about the proper 
thing to tone us up, so we sent one of our number over to the 
oyster house and he bought a gallon of oysters and offered in 
payment a two dollar ' ' Kalamazoo. ' ' The darkey had .some 
doubts about the bill, but was a.ssured it was genuine, and that 
he could go up to the captain and convince him.self that it was 
all right ; but before the darkey had time to go, the captain 
walked in ; the bill was produced, and the captain gave him 
two dollars and eighty cents in good Government greenbacks, 
remarking that it was worth three dollars to him. This move 
established the worth of Kalamazoo greenbacks, and we had 
a fair supply of oysters. ( Capt. Buckley was at this time on 
a .sick furlough, but his dress coat was in camp. ) 

From the 15th of February until the nth of March, we 
remained in camp at Hampton, the time being occupied with 
the regular round of camp duties. Snow and rain alternated 



49 

with pleasant weather. Duties were light, and, with plenty to 
eat, a good comfortable place to sleep in, and the privilege of 
passes to visit the numerous places of interest in the vicinity, 
made us feel very well contented with our situation. 

On the 27th of February Capt. Buckley returned from a sick 
furlough. I^ieut. Parker, taking his turn at a furlough, left 
the battery on March 2d, for Rhode Island. 

At two o'clock in the morning of the 6th, John T. Green 
died of measles, and was buried at three o'clock in the after- 
noon of the 7th, with military honors. 

First Lieut. G. C. Harkness, at his request, was mustered 
out of service, and left for home on the 7th. 

March nth the battery moved to Newport News, where it 
remained until the i6th, on which day the camp was changed 
about a mile back towards Hampton. 

Just at night on the iSth, orders were received to prepare 
five days rations and be ready to march at an early hour next 
morning. At six o'clock in the morning of the 19th, we 
started for Fortress Monroe. It began to .snow soon after leav- 
ing camp ; the storm rapidly increased, and by afternoon be- 
came a blizzard. It was found impossible for us to reach our 
destination, and we were obliged to camp. We pas.sed a most 
disagreeable night ; wood was very .scarce, and it was with 
great difficult}- that we gathered enough to keep us from freez- 
ing. vSnow fell to the depth of eight or ten inches, adding 
much to our discomfort. 

Next morning we continued on to Fortress Monroe, and from 
the wharf at that place loaded our battery upon the steamer 
John Brooks, and the hor.ses upon two schooners, and started 
early on the morning of the 22d, in tow of the steamer, for 
Baltimore, Md. Our pa.s.sage across Chesapeake Bay was rather 
tempestuous, indeed so rough was it at one time that the steamer 
was obliged to cut the tow-line and cast us adrift. vShe lay 



5° 

to near us until morning, when she picked us up again, and 
we proceeded on our journey without further interruption, 
reaching Baltimore at sunrise on the morning of the 24th. 

The battery was transferred as rapidly as possible from the 
boats to the cars, and at three o'clock in the afternoon left 
Baltimore over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for Parkersburg, 
on the Ohio River. Our train consisted of flat cars upon which 
the pieces and caissons were loaded, and freight cars in which 
the men and horses were accommodated, the only difference 
between those occupied by the men and those in which the 
horses were, being the placing of a few pine planks across the 
car for the men to sit upon. Two nights and one day were 
occupied in making this journey, arriving at Parkersburg on 
the 27th. Frequently long stops were made which enabled 
the men to make little foraging trips, and, as the}- were almost 
always very successful, there was a sudden increase both in 
the quantity and variety of their diet, which was very accept- 
able to them, and this, together with the constant change of 
scene, made the trip very enjoyable. 

Most of the 27th was occupied in transferring the battery 
from the cars to a ri\-er steamboat, and in the e\-ening com- 
menced our trip down the Ohio River, which was continued 
all night, and until eight o'clock in the evening of the 28th, 
when the bow of our steamer was run up against the bank of 
the river some six or eight miles above Cincinnati. Early 
next morning we continued on down the river to Covington, 
where our mode of conveyance was again changed from boat 
to cars. We reached Lexington, K}'., about eight o'clock on 
the morning of the 30th, and unloaded our battery and went 
into camp about six miles from that city. 

After the failure of Gen. Burn.side's last movement with the 
Army of the Potomac, which resulted in the "mud march," 
he was relieved at his own request from that connnand, and 



51 

went iinnicdiately to W^isliint^tun, and fonnalh" tendered his 
resionation as Major General of \'ohinteers to the President, 
but Mr. Lincohi refused to receive it. reniarkin.i;- that he had 
" other fi.sh for him to fry." 

After a short furlough, durin_i;^ which he visited Providence, 
where he received an entliusiastic ovation from his town.smen, 
Gen. Burn.side returned to Washino^ton, hoping to have com- 
mand of his old Ninth Corps, ))ut the President, after several 
consultations with him, on the 26th of March placed him in 
command of the Department of the Ohio. Upon accepting this 
command Gen. Burnside requested that he might be allowed to 
take the Ninth Corps with him. His request was granted, and 
as Battery D had been transferred to that corps, we were thus 
enabled to follow the fortunes of our nuich loved Burnside. 

The battery remained in camp at Lexington ju.st a week. 
On the evening of April 7th marching orders were received, 
and early on the Hth we packed and hitched u]i, l:)Ut were 
delayed until nearly noon, while the men were paid. As .soon 
as this was accomplished we conunenced our march, but after 
making eight or ten nules, l)ivouacked until morning, when we 
continued our march, reaching Camp Dick Robin.son before 
dark, after a plea.sant journey of about twenty miles over one 
of the best of roads. 

Battery D's camp was upon one side of the road and directly 
opposite the Seventh Rhode Island was encamped. As there 
were manv acquaintances in the two organizations, this prox- 
imity made it very pleasant for the men of both commands. 

On our way from Lexington to Camp Dick Robinson some 
of our men had stopped by the way to in.spect the country in 
general and the whiskey distilleries in particular. An irresist- 
ible desire had seized them to learn just how that beverage — 
which, for a .small outlaw would so .soon make a millionaire 
of a pauper, or a brigadier of a jirivate soldier — was n;ade ; so 



52 

great was their interest that they took no heed of time, and 
their inspection lasted two days. The men of the battery 
began to think they would never see their comrades again ; all 
of them were popular fellows and their return was anxiously 
awaited. 

At last, one afternoon a great cloud of dust was seen rolling 
down the pike towards our camp, and occasionally as the cur- 
tain of dust was blow^n aside, a family carriage, with a colored 
dri\-er mounted upon the box, a soldier by his side, with the 
horses upon the dead run, could be seen. As it drew nearer 
the soldier was recognized as one of the absentees, and when 
the carriage whirled from the pike through our camp, drew up 
before the captain's tent with a great flourish, while from 
inside our missing comrades one after another crawled out, 
formed a line, and as the captain appeared, saluted him and 
reported for duty, it was so ludicrous and audacious that it 
brought a shout of laughter from the men, and made it impos- 
sible for the captain to say anything more than ' ' Go to your 
quarters," while he maintained a straight face. 

Frequent trips were made by the men to distant villages in 
the vicinity ; the weather for the most part being verj' pleasant 
and warm, made these trips through this beautiful country 
very enjoyable. 

On the 26th we started early in the morning for Stamford, 
about eighteen miles distant. We reached our de.stination 
about three o'clock in the afternoon, and made camp, in which 
we remained until the 30th, when an order was received to 
pack up as .soon as possible and proceed to Columbia, about 
twenty-five miles distant. We were .soon on the road, and 
after marching about twent\' miles, went into camp at Car- 
penter's Creek. 

The next day. May ist, was spent in bivouac, momentarih' 
expecting orders to march, but nothing was received until 



53 

evening, when we were ordered to prepare to march at fi\'e 
o'clock in the morning. At dayhght the order was counter- 
manded. 

May 2d we were allowed to pitch our A tents, which led us 
to think our stay at this place was to be prolonged. Fortunate 
it was for us that we pitched our tents, for a heav>' thunder 
.storm prevailed all day of the 3d, and nearly all day on the 
4th, and without the tents we should have been in a sorry con- 
dition. 

I^ate on the 4th orders were recei\-ed to cook two days 
rations, and be ready to march at midnight, and shortly after 
that time " Boots and .saddles" was blown, and we conunenced 
a march of about fifteen miles, over a very rough road and 
through an all da>- rain, which, with the rain of the two pre- 
vious days, transformed the red clay into .several inches of a 
stick\- paste, which made our progress \-er>- slow and tedious. 
I^arly on the morning of the 6th we continued our march, 
reaching the town of Bumpus about noon. Stopping only long 
enough to feed our horses and eat dinner, we then pushed on 
and made camp a few miles from vSomerset. 

On the 7th we moved our camp to vSomer.set, where we 
remained until June 4th, our time being occtipied with gen- 
eral camp duties, drills, etc. Hay was very .scarce, and every 
other da>' the horses were taken out and allowed to graze. 
The.se trips proved ver>' pleasant for the men, as it brought 
them in contact with the farmers, and gave them opportunities 
to bu>' butter, eggs, and other de.sirable eatables. 

On the 2 2d orders were received to turn in A tents and all 
our stirplus baggage, and rinnor had it that we were soon to 
start for East Tenne.s.see ; biit day after day pas.sed and noth- 
ing further was heard of such a movement. 

On the 25th, the drivers being .some three or four miles from 
camp grazing their hor.ses, an orderly rode furioush- into cam]) 



54 

with an order to have the battery hitched up as soon as possi- 
ble, and bringing the startHng information that our pickets 
had been driven in by the enemy, who were fast approaching 
Somerset. 

A messenger was immediately dispatched for the horses, and 
upon his reaching them there commenced as grand a hurdle 
race as one would care to witness — every one upon his own 
responsibility starting for camp — across fields, over fences and 
through ditches they went, making for the men in camp a 
most interesting and amusing finish. Upon their arrival the 
battery was hitched up, and remained in that condition, ready 
to move at a moment's notice until dark, when everything 
quieted down and assumed its usual condition. 

It was while in this camp that the men of the battery had a 
rather .startling illustration of the cavernous condition of this 
part of Kentucky. Our camp la}' upon the ridge of quite a 
sizable basin, in the bottom of which there was a pond of per- 
haps five or .six hundred feet in circumference. It had been 
there ever since we came to the place, and we had no reason 
to think that it was not a permanent fixture to the landscape ; 
but one night about midnight the men were aroused b}' strange 
and unusual noi.ses, evidently proceeding from the pond. In- 
vestigations were made, but nothing was ascertained bej'ond 
the fact that the water in the pond was falling ver}' fast. Daj-- 
light was patiently waited for, when it was discovered that our 
pond had disappeared, and in the very centre of the depression 
was a hole as large as a hog.shead, evidently leading into one 
of the numerous caverns with which the country thereabout is 
filled. 

Gen. Burn.side left Cincinnati on the 30th of May for Hick- 
man's Bridge, K}'. , for the purpose of leading the Ninth and 
Twenty-third Corps over the Cumberland Mountains into Ea.st 
Tenne.s.see, but when he reached Lexington he was met by an 



55 

order from the War Department directing- him to reinforce 
Gen. Grant, at \'ickslnirg. Gen. Burnside had at this time 
the Twenty-third Corps, formed from small bodies of troops 
which had been scattered about in Kentucky, Ohio and Indi- 
ana, whose organization he did not consider thoroughh- per- 
fected, and his old staunch and true Ninth Corps. With his 
usual unselfish noble-heartedness Cxcn. Burnside put behind 
him all his plans and desires and inunediately put two divisions 
of the Ninth Corps in motion for \'icksburg, and telegraphed 
the Secretary of War for permission to accompany them, but 
the Secretary would not permit it, and Gen. Parks a.ssumed 
command. 

The order for this journey of the Ninth Corps reached Bat- 
tery D at its camp in vSomer.set just before one o'clock on the 
morning of June 4th, and at sunrise the battery pulled out of 
park and started on its march for Lexington. 

On the evening of the 5th we reached Stamford, and the 
men were kept up luitil after midnight signing the pay roll 
and receiving their pay. The night of the 6th we occupied 
our old quarters at Camp Dick Robinson. 

At ten o'clock in the forenoon the battery arrived at the 
depot in Lexington, and the men immediately commenced to 
load the battery u])on the cars for the purpo.se of conunenc- 
ing- our proposed jotirne>-, but after having nearlj- completed 
this work, the order was countermanded ; the battery was 
unloaded and moved about three miles from Lexington and 
encamped. 

During the night word was brought to us that Louis La Font, 
a member of the battery, had fallen or been thrown down 
stairs at the guard hou.se in Lexington, and his neck broken. 
LaFont was a genial, good-natured man, much liked by his 
comrades, and his death cast a gloom o\er the whole comjiany. 

The next day the batter\- receixed orders tem}X)raril\- trans- 



56 

ferring it to the Twenty-third Corps, together with marching 
orders for the nth, and on that da}" it moved to Camp Nelson, 
about five miles distant, where the battery remained until July 
1 2th. Our situation here was very pleasant, in the very 
centre as it was, of that beautiful blue grass countrj-, sur- 
rounded by the most luxuriant fields of corn, wheat and r}e, 
and such fields of clover. Our horses enjoyed it, and it made 
the drivers feel glad to see them growing so fat and sleek upon 
this excellent fodder. 

As the 4th of July drew near we began to make great prep- 
arations for its celebration. Clark Walker, our carpenter, went 
to Nicholsvale and built a platform for dancing ; arrange- 
ments were made with the citizens to provide a banquet for a 
fair consideration ; in fact everything that could be thought of 
that would add to the success of the day was arranged. By 
daylight on the morning of the 4th the men were astir, cutting 
grass to be used as wadding (for at sunrise we were to fire a 
national salute), and piled it up near each gun. 

Just as the sun appeared above the horizon, every cannonier 
was at his position — the guns having been previously loaded, 
filled almost to the nuizzle with the wet grass — number four 
stood with his lanyard held taut in the position of ready, when 
out broke upon the morning air the order " By battery, fire." 
At that instant there came a report from the six gvnis of the 
battery that was heard for twenty miles, followed as rapidly 
as possible by other reports until one volley had been fired in 
honor of every State then in the Union. 

After stable call had been attended to, the men were allowed 
to go to the village and carr}- out the programme previously 
arranged. The violinist of the battery, Dan Elliott, provided 
the music for the dancing, fairly eclipsing all of his former 
efforts. It was a very enjoyable occasion, the men returning 
to camp about six o'clock, well satisfied with the entire success 



5 7 

of the celebration. At sunset tlie salute of the morning was 
repeated, thus making everyone feel that the day had been 
properly obser\-ed. 

July 5th rumors of the approach of Gen. John Morgan, at 
the head of about 3000 mounted men and six guns, began to 
excite the citizens. Farmers made all po.ssible haste to drive 
their cattle, horses, etc., within our lines; the battery placed 
its guns in position connnanding the roads, while the infantry 
dug riile pits and made every provision to give these raiders a 
very warm reception .should they have the temerity to come 
our way. 

The excitement continued for the next five days, but on 
the nth it was learned that Morgan had avoided us, having 
passed man>- miles to the west of our po.sition, and on the 8th 
had cro.s.sed the Ohio River into Indiana, where he was com- 
mitting all sorts of depredations. 

July 1 2th orders were received for the battery to march at 
nine o'clock in the forenoon for Lexington, load upon the cars 
and proceed at once to Cincinnati. At eight o'clock on the 
morning of the 13th Co\-ington was reached, and as quick as 
the batter\' could be unloaded, we cros.sed the river into Cin- 
cinnati. That city was in a state of great excitement — Morgan 
was expected to ride into their streets at any moment, and 
with the greatly exaggerated reports of the enormity and cruelty 
of his depredations constantly ringing in their ears, it was not 
surprising that they should welcome with open arms anything 
which promised them protection from such a monster. All the 
militia was under arms, but the advent of a battery of light 
artillery, ])articularly a \-eteran organization that they knew 
had seen .service, and lots of it, like Battery D, was ver}- rea.s- 
.suring to them. Their pleasure was evidenced by the welcome 
they gave us ; indeed .so royal was the welcome I am afraid 
had John Morgan appeared to us that night lie would have met 



58 

very little resistance from us, a circumstance which happened 
but once in the nearly four years service of Battery D. 

No sooner had we landed on the le\-ee than we began to 
receive an ovation which increased with ever}- block, and when 
we crossed the Rhine — a canal which ran through the centre 
of the city — the demonstration reached its climax. This part 
of the town was largely occupied by Germans. There was a 
lager beer saloon upon each corner, and sometimes one or two 
between. As we passed, the saloon-keepers came out to us with 
each finger of both hands holding a glass of beer. Capt. Buck- 
ley had mounted the cannoniers and given strict orders that 
none .should dismount without permission ; but this precaution 
was wholly unnecessary', for the men had no desire to dismount 
with all this beer surrounding them. A few indulged once, 
more twice or thrice, and a nutch larger numl^er so frequently 
that when we arrived in camp on the out.skirts of the city, it 
was found that quite a number of the men were ready to turn 
in at once, and the temperance men would have the privilege 
of doing all the work of unharnessing, watering and feeding 
the hor.ses, as a reward for their good behavior. 

Early next morning the three .sections of the battery were 
sent out upon three principal roads approaching the city from 
the north, and .selecting positions which commanded these 
different roads for a comsiderable distance, went into battery. 
Our support was the militia from the city and the surrounding 
country, who felt, and we agreed with them, that should Mor- 
gan attempt to enter Cincinnati he would meet with a very 
warm reception. But Morgan did not attempt to enter the 
city, but passed some miles from our front, and was finalh' 
captured by Gen. Shackleford on the 26th, near New L,isbon. 

July 1 6th the battery was withdrawn from picket duty, and 
encamped upon Vine Street Hill. 

July 17th Gen. Burn.side ordered Capt. Buckley to move the 



59 

battery to Ninth Street, within a short distance of liis liead- 
quarters, place the carriao;es in a wa.^on yard, the horses in 
a stable, and furnish the men with quarters in a hall near by. 
To say that the men were very much pleased with this arrange- 
ment but mildly expresses their feelings. It was a matter of 
much .speculation among them as to just why this good luck 
had fallen to them. At first the men were inclined to think 
that it was because Gen. Burnside was kindly di.sposed towards 
us, and having an opiK)rtunit>' to give us a "soft .snap," had 
improved it ; but with the light of future events, they were 
inclined to think that, added to this reason, was a de.sire to 
keep the battery in the city near him, that he might u.se it 
as an intimidator against the draft rioters, who.se grumbling 
and growling were growing louder and louder, and their 
nightly meetings in the different market places more nmner- 
ou.sly attended, as the draft proceeded. 

The first intimation that the officers of the battery received 
that such duty would be required of us came a few evenings 
after the commencement of our new arrangement, when an 
orderly from head-quarters came to the hall and inquired for 
Capt. Buckley, who could not be found ; in fact it unfortu- 
nately happened that the highest officer that could be found 
was a duty .sergeant, which fact the orderly was obliged to 
report to the General, who ordered him to return to the bat- 
tery, find an officer, and order him to report at head-quarters 
immediately. Lieut. Parker had returned l)y this time, and 
he inunediately reported to Gen. Burnside, whom he found 
very wroth, and who proceeded to lecture him upon the great 
lack of attention to duty by the officers of Battery I), and 
ordered him to inform Capt. Buckley that he desired him to 
have his battery prepared to hitch up at a moment's notice, at 
any hour of the day or night. This gave us the knowledge 
that we were not in these comfortable tpiarters just for our 



6o 

own pleasure, but that there was a probable dut}' connected 
wdth our situation. After this only a few men were allowed 
to leave at a time, all others were expected to be within hailing 
distance of the hall. 

As often as every other day the battery was called out for 
parade, and was taken through the different portions of the 
city. On Sunday we were marched down to the levee, where 
we went through an inspection, and afterwards were drilled 
for an hour or two, just to remind the evil-disposed citizens 
that there was a six-gun battery still in their city, that would 
make short work with any mob who attempted any violence. 

About half-past eight one e\-ening the batter}' was ordered 
to hitch up as soon as possible, and as soon as read}' it started 
for a market-place situated nearly in the centre of the city, 
where a crowd was reported to be gathering. As we neared 
the place the captain gave the order " Trot, march," and the 
battery swept around the corner into the market-place in a 
column of sections, dividing as it reached the market-house, 
the right pieces passing it on the right, the left pieces upon 
the left, uniting as they passed the house and continuing on to 
the end of the square, then countermarched and came back. 
By the time we had reached the end of the market-place there 
was hardly a person to be seen, every bod}- seemingl}- having 
become satisfied that Gen. Burnside was determined that there 
should be no hostile gathering in Cincinnati. 

This was the only occasion when it was necessary to make 
such a demonstration as this. Everything quieted down, and 
from this time until the end of our stay, Aug. loth. Battery 
D was not called upon to do any more intimidating. 

At nine o'clock on the morning of Aug. loth we crossed the 
Ohio River, loaded the battery on the cars, and at two o'clock 
in the afternoon left Covington en route for Lexington. Arriv- 
ing just after midnight, the men were immediately put to work 



6t 

iniloadiusj," the battery, and as soon as tliis was acconiplislied, 
and they liad prepared and eaten their breakfast, " Boots and 
saddles ' ' was blown, and the batter>- started for Camp Nelson, 
where we remained until the 15th, the time being occupied in 
general repairing and refitting, and ever>- care was taken to 
get our battery in the best possible condition. New harnesses 
were drawn, the battery wagon was thoroughly overhauled and 
replenished, and clothing was issued to the men. Those of them 
who drew a liberal supply had reason to l)e thankful that they 
had done .so ; these who did not, regretted it before the coming 
campaign was over. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Campaign in East Tennessee. 



ON the nth of August Gen. Burnside arrived at Hick- 
man's Bridge, Ky., and began making the final arrange- 
ments for his movement into East Tennessee. He received 
information that the Ninth Corps had been reheved by Gen. 
Grant, and was then on its way north, the advance regiments 
having already reached Cairo, and could be expected to arrive 
in Cincinnati not later than the 15th. 

The Twenty-third Corps, under Gen. Hartzuff, had rendez- 
voused in three columns, at different points ; one, under Gen. 
White, at Columbia ; another, under Gen. Hascall, at Somer- 
set ; and the third, under Gen. Carter, at Crab Orchard. 
With this last column Gen. Burnside w^as to go. 

On the 20th the General issued orders for a forward move- 
ment to take place on the 21st, and at last this long delayed, 
much wished for, and most fervently prayed for expedition 
was to start. 

What significance tho.se two w^ords — At Last — had for thou- 
sands, yea, tens of thousands at this time. It .signified to 
President Lincoln that at last one load which had been upon 
his heart for a year and a half — namely, his sympathy for the 



63 

loyal people of Kast Tennessee — was about to be removed ; it 
sig'nified to those three great leaders of the Union men of that 
section — Andrew Johnson, Edward Maynard, and Parson 
Brownlow, that at last all their labor, efforts and prayers were 
about to Ijear fruit in the acc()m])lishment of their most cher- 
ished desire. 

It signified to (Ven. Hm-nside that at last he could ]nish for- 
ward an expedition which had had full jjossession of his heart 
— primarily, for the relief of a long-suffering, intensely loyal 
people — and secondly, to seize and hold as much as possible of 
the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad. 

It signified to Gen. Rosecrans that at last he need give him- 
self no uneasiness about the rapid transfer of any portion of 
the Army of \'irginia to Chattanooga, via the East Tennessee 
and Georgia Railroad, and after being used successfully against 
him, to be as rapidly returned back again. 

But what an infinitely greater significance did these words 
have for the thousands of women and children in East Ten- 
nessee. In imagination I can see those mothers, wives and 
sisters (as they receive the news carried by some fleet-footed 
mes.senger over the Cuml^erland Mountains, by secluded paths i 
gather on their mountains, in their valleys, in towns and cities, 
and turning their eyes towards the mountains at the north, cr>- 
out in all the ecstacy of lightened hearts, " x^t la.st, thank 
God, dear fathers, husbands and brothers, you are coming back 
to us !"' And in answer I can hear, coming from the throats 
of those fathers, husbands and brothers, who had come over 
the mountains into Kentuck\- in such num]:)ers that they had 
organized eight full regiments of infantry and three of cavalry, 
" Yes ! dear ones, at last we surely are coming, to protect you 
and our homes. 

Our battery having ])een thoroughly refitted and prepared 
for the expedition, was ordered upon the isth U) report to Gen. 



64 

Hascall, at Danville. Here it remained until the morning of 
the 17th, when it continued its journey to Stamford, laid over 
one day, and at two o'clock on the morning of the 19th was 
aroused by "Boots and saddles," marching as soon as ready, 
for Crab Orchard. 

This place had in ante-bellum days been noted as a watering- 
place, or perhaps more properly speaking, sanitarium, it being 
possessed of numerous medicinal springs. If my memory 
serves me, it was more fortunate than most fakes of this sort, 
in that these springs were supposed to contain waters of differ- 
ent therapeutical effect. There was the alterative, tonic, and 
aperient water, a liberal and intelligently administered course 
of which would rejuvenate the most thoroughh' used-up system 
in the world. No wonder that it was the Mecca toward which 
all the chronics of the South journeyed. 

Any veteran will remember how apt an old soldier was who 
had been living upon salt junk, .salt pork and hard- tack for a 
considerable time, to allow his imagination full scope whenever 
his surroundings reminded him of a full cour.se dinner or ban- 
quet. Thus it was with Battery D on the evening that we 
spent at Crab Orchard. 

A lot of us gathered on the piazza of the vacant hotel and 
gave orders for dinners that would have taxed the ability of a 
Delmonico or a Tillinghast to have filled ; and the fearful drop 
that came when the men who had been personating waiters to 
help along the joke and had da.shed away for the kitchen on 
receiving our orders to have them filled, and returned with a 
raw pork sandwich for each, profu.se wnth their apologies from 
the proprietors, that they were unable to fill our orders because 
of the great ru.sh of business, which had entirely destroyed their 
as.sortment of eatables. 

We ate the .sandwiches, using all the imagination that we 
posse.s.sed, then went to the .springs and tried a course of the 



waters. One of the springs, which I suppose must have been 
the alterative, was loud in its smell and loud in its taste, and 
we vowed we would ha\'e no more of it. 

Crab Orchard is situated at the beginning of the foot-hills 
of the Cumberland Mountains, and from here the diffictilties 
of the way will increase with every mile we travel. From this 
on for some eighty miles we are to march through a wilder- 
ness, from which we cannot expect to gather anything in the 
way of forage, consequently we must secure all the grain and 
hay that can be found, to take with us. All day of the 20th 
we spent in this work, .scouring the country for ten miles 
around with indifferent sitcce.ss. 

On the 2ist we marched to Cub Creek, a .small stream empty- 
ing into the Cumberland River. Next day we moved to Cum- 
berland River and camped on its bank, near vSmith's Ford. On 
this day our battery made twenty miles, which was considered 
astonishing by our corps connnander. In a report to Gen. 
Burnside he said that the roads were the worst he ever saw^ 
particularly the last five or six miles before we reached the 
river, but thought the>' wottld be better when we had crossed 
to the other side. 

I think that my comrades of Battery D will smile at this 
prophecy when they remember what we really did find in the 
line of roads after we crossed the river. The approach to and 
exit from vSmith's Ford were two of the steepest hills I ever 
remember to have seen, and the next morning when we began 
to cross I contemplated the work with fear and trembling ; for 
I con.sidered my position of wheel-driver on the .sixth cai.sson 
a dangerous one. But as I stood upon the top of the hill and 
watched piece after piece and caisson after caisson go down 
safely, and feeling that I was perhaps as expert a driver as any 
of the others, and had a ]xiir of hor.se.s— of which I propose 
to have .something more to sa>- later on — as reliable as any in 



66 

the battery, I began to have more confidence, and when my 
turn came made the descent successfully. On the other side 
it required the united efforts of six pairs of horses and all the 
cannoniers that could get a hand on the carriages, to make the 
ascent. 

We .spent the 24th in foraging for grain, and succeeded in 
finding enough for three or four feedings, which was very 
unsatisfactory. We had hardly enough to feed the hor.ses, on 
small rations, for more than three days, and as on the morrow 
we were to commence our climb to the top of the Cumberland 
Mountains, should our hor.ses give out we would be in a sorry 
plight. 

On the 25th we continued our march, and to our .surpri.se 
found the roads in much better condition than we expected, 
and were able to make about eighteen miles. We began to 
feel that perhaps our way was not to be so difficult after all ; but 
the next morning before we had been on the road an hour we 
found that the good road was a delusion atid a snare — a .sort 
of "will-o'-the-wisp" to lure us on, and then suddenly throw 
before us difficulties which were almost insurmountable. 

The road began to narrow rapidly, until it became simply a 
bridle-path, over which I do not believe a carriage had ever 
passed before. The ascent became steeper and steeper, many 
places being encountered over which the carriages had to be 
lifted by the men. The horses could hardly be driven over 
the.se precipitous places, much less be made to pull. 

The infantry which had been ordered to accompany the 
battery to assist in getting us over the rough places, became 
tired very early, and the men of the batter}' becoming disgusted 
with their continual grumbling, and the awkward manner in 
which they rendered their a.s.sistance, drove them away, prefer- 
ring to do it alone. Both men and hor.ses performed herculean 
labor that day. 



67 

Durin,^ the afternoon we had ])een enconrai^ed ljy the report 
tliat there was very little more of this terribly hard labor to be 
jierfornied. If we could only hold out just a little while we 
should reach the top of the mountain, and after we passed 
the "Pine Knot Tavern," the road would be level, and in 
much better condition. 

I do not know whether it was the hope of getting through 
with the labor, or the anxiety to reach the tavern — many of 
them picturing to themselves an establishment something after 
the style of the good old New England ta\-ern, filled with 
plent}- to eat and drink — that stimulated the men to greater 
exertions or not, Ijut for an hour or two our progress was 
much more rapid. It was after dark when we reached a spot 
large enough to park the battery at very close intervals, and 
bivouacked for the night. 

Early on the morning of the 27th, after giving our hor.ses all 
the corn left, we started on. Very soon we passed "Pine 
Knot Tavern," which consi.sted of a cellar half filled with the 
debris of what had been a small log cabin, the supports of 
which had rotted off and allowed the cabin to fall into the cellar. 

.Several natives, who had come from their homes, located in 
the ravines on either side of the mountain, to .see us pa.ss, and 
.sell a few chickens ( their .stock had been exhausted long before 
we passed), were the first people we had .seen since we entered 
the wilderness. 

All day we marched at this high elevation. Occa.sionalh' a 
cloud would sweep across our path, enveloping us in fog for 
a while ; then there would be places where we would pass otit 
of the woods and a most magnificent land.scape would unfold 
to our view. Sometimes it would be Kentucky, at others Ea.st 
Tennessee upon which we were looking. Taken all together 
it was the mo.st enjo\able panoramic sort of a march that the 
battery ever made. 



68 

It was left, however, for the morning of the 29th to unfold 
the most magnificent sight that most of us had ever looked 
upon. As we gazed about, we found that our location gave 
us a view on both sides of the mountain. To the north we 
could see back into Kentucky, almost to our starting point, 
and trace the route which we had just come over, dotted here 
and there with the towns and villages through which we had 
passed. Many of us had wondered why that section of the 
State had been called the " Blue Grass Region ;" the reason 
was plainly evident to us now, for there it lay before us, as 
blue as though it had been dyed. 

Then we turned our eyes towards the south, and looked 
upon that land into which we were about to enter ; beautiful 
it was to look upon, divided into valleys by spurs of the Cum- 
berland Mountains, the ever-changing color of the landscape 
as the sun rose higher and higher, enabling us to see farther, 
until our eyes could discover the Smoky Mountains, the tops 
of which were covered with a smoke-like cloud, located beyond 
Knoxville. 

As our eyes became tired of looking such a distance we fas- 
tened them upon the scenery near at hand, and found it as 
grand and romantic as any we had ever looked upon. Taken 
all together it was a most magnificent sight, and did not fail to 
arouse the most unenthusiastic nature in the battery. 

While we are contemplating the scene before us, and before 
we commence our descent into these valleys, it will be well for 
us to consider what manner of people these are whom we are 
going to succor. That they are a peculiar people is perfectly 
evident from the fact that, living as they do in the almost 
geographical centre of the Slave States, the}^ are by a large 
majority opposed to the institution of slavery. This is evidenced 
by the fact that the first abolition paper ever published in the 
United States emanated from a press in Jonesboro, Tennessee. 



69 

Anions the first abolition societies ever organized in this cotm- 
try were those of Kastern Tennessee, and in the year 1816 the 
Manumission Society, of Tennessee, held a meeting at Green- 
ville, and issued an address advocating the abolition of slavery. 
Whence came this abhorrence of slaver}', and this love of 
libert}' ? Certainly the origin of this people must have been 
different, totally different, from those who surrounded them 
on all sides. 

I am indebted to my friend William Rule, Esq., of Knox- 
ville, for the following account of the first .settlement of East 
Tenne.s.see : 

"On the first day of May, 1769, a young farmer started 
out from the banks of the Yadkin River, in the State of North 
Carolina, accompanied by five stalwart hunters. It was about 
the time that the descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers in Mas.sa- 
chusetts were denying them.selves the luxury of tea rather 
than pa}' tribute to a tyrant king. About the same time the 
House of Burges.ses was dis.solved by the Colonial Governor of 
\'irginia, for having dared to pa.ss resolutions condemning the 
Stamp Act, and Governor Tryon, of North Carolina, was .serv- 
ing his royal ma.ster by oppressing the patriots of that colony. 

The name of the young farmer was James Robertson, the 
founder of the first colony in Tennes.see ; and one of the 
hunters who accompanied him was Daniel Boone, whose daring 
exploits are familiar to everyone. They went, as did the mes- 
sengers of old sent by Mo.ses, to .spy out beyond the Allegha- 
nies a land where they and those who .sent them might live 
free from the restraints and oppression of English rulers. 

One year afterwards a colony was established beside the 
.swift-running waters of the beatitiful Watango River. It was 
compo.sed of men and women of heroic mould, filled with 
in.spirations of patriotism, resolved that their abiding place in 
the wilderness, surrounded by .savages, .should be " Freedom's 



70 

home or Glory's grave." It was the descendants of these 
patriots who became the first Abohtionists. It was these same 
people that, in February, 1861, when voting upon a proposi- 
tion proposed by the Legislature as to whether a convention 
should or shotild not be called for the purpose of passing an 
ordinance of secession, declared by a majority of more than 
twent^'-three thousand out of a total vote of forty-three thou- 
sand, against holding the convention." 

It was these same people who furnished to the Union army 
during the Rebellion thirty- five thousand troops — two thou.sand 
more than our own State. 

It .should be borne in mind that the.se men could not go 
quietly and peacefully to enlLsting places, .situated in their own 
towns and cities, place their names upon the rolls in the pres- 
ence of friends who encouraged and praised them for .so doing, 
nor cotild the}' leave their families with the a.ssurance that the}' 
would be looked after and taken care of by a kind and sympa- 
thetic State. 

On the contrary they were obliged to travel on foot by night 
over mountains, swimming swift-running rivers, avoiding all 
roads, taking only unfrequented paths, becau.se the Confed- 
erates, who realized that the.se men were bound to serve the 
Union cause, and were willing to endure any hardship or pri- 
vation necessary to accomplish that object, were patrolling all 
the roads leading into Kentucky, for the purpo.se of capturing 
these patriots and carrying them off to rebel pri.sons. Jour- 
neys varying from two to three hundred miles were made by 
tens of thousands of these men, for the purpose of fighting 
for their country, leaving their families to the tender mercies 
of an enraged enemy. 

Show me a people pos.ses.sed of greater heroism, patriotism 
and love of country, than the men and women — of whom I 
propo.se to say more — of East Tennessee ! 



71 

It had Ix^en llie custom of Capt. Buckley after we eutered 
tlie wilderness, to ride on before the battery after he had seen 
it luider wa>-, taking with him as orderly, William Fisk, and 
hunt for forage. On this morning they started as ttsual, and 
were nearly the first to pass the ta\-ern. They were sticcessful 
in securing two of the chickens before-mentioned, but could 
get no information as to any grain in that vicinitw Continu- 
ing on, it was well into the afternoon before they came across 
an>- other citizens. Turning a bend in the road they suddenh" 
came in sight of a log cabin just t)ff the trail we were follow- 
ing. No one was in sight, l)ut a few vigorotis hulloas from 
the captain brought into view two men and three women, evi- 
dently father, mother, .son and two daughters. 

Capt. Buckley, in his most stiave manner, asked if they had 
grain or any knowledge of an>- in that vicinity. The\' very 
prompth' answered that they had none, neither did the\' know 
of any, and the captain was al)Out to contintie his jotirney, 
when the \otniger daughter said, "John Cooper has .some." 
" Who is John Cooper, and where does he li\'e?" a.sked the 
captain. "A right .smart piece down that road, on Pond's 
Creek," .she replied, pointing to a path which opened from 
the main road directh" oppo.site where they were standing. 
Mounting their hor.ses the captain .said to Fisk, "We will go 
and .see John Cooper," and started down the path. 

After riding a little more than two miles, the>- reached a log 
cabin, and noticing what appeared to be a grist-mill a little 
further on, the captain thotight he wotild investigate before 
going to the hou.se. The result of this investigation was 
between twenty-five and thirty bu.shels of corn, wheat and 
oats, upon which the cai)tain's .seal was inunediately ]ilaced. 

They went to the house and were plea.santl\" greeted by 
vSusan Cooper, wife of John Cooper, as the lady informed them. 
In reply to the captain's question as to whom the grain be- 



72 

longed, she informed him that some of it was John's and the 
balance belonged to neighbors. No objection was made by her 
when informed by the captain that he should be obliged to 
take the grain, but he would leave a receipt for it, which would 
be paid if her husband was a Union man. 

At the captain's suggestion Mrs. Cooper expressed a willing- 
ness to provide dinner for her guests, the number of which had 
been enlarged by the arrival of an artillery- captain and two 
buglers, who had come down into the ravine in quest of grain, 
and had been invited by Capt. Buckley to partake of the meal 
then being prepared by Mrs. Cooper, which consisted of fried 
chicken and bacon, with a liberal supply of corn bread. The 
lady was considerably embarrassed by her inability to supply 
dishes for so large a company, and apologized for her impov- 
ished condition in this direction by saying that "It was a long 
time since John had been where dishes could be put off. ' ' 

Three things in connection with these people are thoroughly 
impressed upon my mind : — First, the very small environment 
within which they lived ; secondly, their entire lack of interest 
in anything not entering upon their own lives ; and, thirdly, 
the exceeding simplicity of their lives, and the little that was 
required to make them apparently contented and happy. Mrs. 
Cooper, for instance, living at the bottom of that ravine, the 
only entrance to which was down a narrow mountain pathway, 
in a log cabin having but one room, with about two acres of 
cleared land, surrounded upon all sides, save at the entrance, 
by a solid wall of rock towering seventy-five feet in height, 
passing months at a time without seeing anyone save the mem- 
bers of her own family, certainly had as monotonous an exis- 
tence as could be imagined. 

The grain secured b}^ the captain did not reach our bivouac 
at Chitwood until late at night, but so badly was it needed by 
the horses — they having been without any grain for one day 



73 

at least — that tlie drivers were aroused and tlieir horses fed 
immediately. 

The time had now arrived when we must commence our 
descent from the mountain top. It is less laborious for the 
cannoniers, but much more so for the wheel-drivers, of which 
I, unfortunately, happened to be one. It has always been a 
matter of surpri.se to me that we brought the battery safely to 
the foot of that motuitain. I consider that the agility displayed 
by me in dodging that pole as it flew about in ever}' direction 
— .sometimes over one horse, then the other, at one time point- 
ing to the earth, and then to heaven, cau.sed by the dashing 
(sliding would perhaps be a better word, as the wheels were 
locked) of the cai.s.son over the rocks, .sometimes making nec- 
essary a jump of four or five feet, and be able to .shout to my 
comrades as we reached the bottom, " It never touched me," 
was one of the best things I ever did. 

I claim no special merit for the successful manner in which 
I guided the cai.s-son down that awful road, because there were 
thirteen other wheel-drivers who were just as successful, but 
all the .same, I believe it was my thorough knowledge of the 
peculiarities of my hor.ses that enabled me to do it. I was 
intimately acqitainted with both of them, as I had driven them 
for twenty months. Both were powerful animals, but with 
entirely different notions as to how their strength was to be 
used. Hercules, the nigh hor.se, which I rode, was always 
willing to do his full share of the pidling, and if upon occa- 
sions it became neces.sary for him to make an extra effort, he 
would, at my bidding, take the whole load of the cais.son upon 
his shoulders. The off hor.se, with almost as much .strength, 
did not believe in pulling, and would not luile.ss he thought I 
was watching him, when he would put in apparently for all 
there was in him ; but when asked to hold back, he entered 
into the performance of that act with all the enthusiasm of a 



74 

horse's nature. I have frequently stopped the whole team by 
signifying that I wanted him to do his best at holding back. 

I have always regretted that I obliged that horse to go down 
to his grave with a name which entirely misrepresented him. 
He had the most vicious expression I ever saw upon a horse. 
His ears were always lopped (I never saw them erect), and he 
had a habit of parting his lips, showing his teeth in such a 
manner that it gave one the impressson that he only awaited 
an opportunity to attack. His appearance led me, when the 
sergeant presented him, saying, " George, here is a horse just 
suited to go with Hercules," to exclaim, "He looks like 
Old Satan himself!" and from that moment he was known 
through the battery as ' ' Old Satan. ' ' 

It was wrong thus to name him, and I desire on this occasion 
to do him justice by declaring, after two years constant associ- 
ation, during which I learned to think a great deal of him as 
a horse, that I never saw any evidence of his possessing a single 
attribute said to be possessed by his namesake. Kind and 
gentle, he never gave me any trouble. He seemed to have 
acquired a perfect understanding of how that caisson should 
be managed upon the march, and I soon learned to trust him 
with its management. Upon long marches at night, when I 
found it almost impossible to keep my eyes open, many were 
the restful naps I enjoyed sitting on Hercules' back with my 
head pillowed upon the valise in " Old Satan's" saddle. 

Speaking about horses, I wonder if my comrades of Battery D 
have forgotten what an amount of affection was lavished upon 
the horses by their drivers. Certainly no one of the sixth 
detachment will ever forget "OldCurley," driven so long as 
the nigh leader upon their piece, by Anson Mathewson, pos- 
sessed of an intelligence which enabled him to reason more 
successfully than some animals of the human species. 

We all remember the affectionate regard held by St. John, 



75 

Billy Mills, \\'illiam Stalker and many others for their teams. 
Any of them would tramp miles after dark to some haystack 
which they had seen during the day, make as large a bundle 
of the hay as they could carry, bring it to camp, spread it 
before their horses, and then sit up half the night watching 
until the horses had consumed it, from fear that some one 
would steal it and feed it to his own team. 

At la.st we are over the mountains, and the great difficulties 
of our journey pas.sed. This march of the Army of the Ohio 
over the Cumberland Mountains has been likened to the cross- 
ing of the Alps by Bonaparte, and it seems to me the .simile 
is well taken. Certainly it is hard to imagine difficulties 
greater than tho.se encountered by our army. The rebel Gen. 
Buckner, who is said to have had an army of 20,000 men to 
oppo.se our entry into East Tennessee, while Gen. Burnside 
had but about 15,000, was .so thoroughly satisfied of the abso- 
lute impo.s.sibility of the passage of an army from Kentucky 
to Tenne.s.see at this point, believing that they must come by 
wa}' of Cumberland Gap, that he made no attempt to oppo.se 
us ; con.sequenth' when we appeared before him his astonish- 
ment was .so great, and his retreat so precipitous, he failed to 
notif}' a detachment of his army, numbering 2,000 men, who 
were guarding Cumberland Gap, and who .soon were obliged 
to surrender to Gen. Burnside. 

Our march of the 28th and 29th had been through a wil- 
derness of rocks ; that of the 30th and 31st was through a wil- 
derness of woods. The troops in advance of the l^attery had 
worked the road-bed into an almost impa.s.sable condition. Our 
horses having had but little forage since the 21st, and had been 
forced to work beyond the limits of their .strength, now began 
to give out, many falling from sheer exhaustien. It began to 
look as though if grain could not be secured for them our 
chances for getting through would l)e rather slim. Quarter- 



76 

master Remington was scouring the country in search of it ; 
but on his return gave the discouraging information that no 
forage could be secured until we should reach a point about 
twenty miles further on. There was no other way out of our 
present difficulty : that point must be reached, and the can- 
noniers must help the horses pull the carriages. 

Our progress was necessarily very slow, but patience, perse- 
verance and lots of hard work, finally accomplished the task, 
and late in the afternoon of the 31st, as we drove into park, 
we had the pleasure of seeing Quartermaster Remington ride 
into camp, followed by two wagons loaded with corn. It gave 
the drivers much satisfaction to see their teams enjoying the 
first good feeding which they had had for ten days. 

We had now gotten out of the wilderness, and were just 
about to enter one of those fertile valleys which we had .seen 
from the mountain top. The men who had accompanied the 
wagons upon the forage trips after the corn, gave us our first 
impression as to the kind and friendh' treatment which we 
might expect from the people whose country we were just enter- 
ing, in their description of the reception they had received 
from those at who.se places they had secured the corn. 

On the morning of September ist, after another good feed- 
ing, the honses seemed to be in much better condition. About 
ten o'clock in the forenoon the battery pulled out into the 
road and joined the division, which had been ordered to make 
" Big Emery," about twenty miles distant, before dark. We 
accomplished the task easily, and formed a junction with the 
column under Gen. Carter, with whom Gen. Burnside had 
cro.ssed the mountains. 

Foraging was now reduced to a perfect system. Gen. Burn- 
side issued an order calling attention to the fact that as it would 
now be necessary for the army to depend upon the country 
largel)" for its subsistence, he desired to remind us that we 



77 

were among a loyal people, who were our friends, and he was 
unwilling that they should be robbed or de.spoiled of their 
property except in a legal manner, and 1)>- the proper authori- 
ties. Officers were to be held stricth' responsible for any dep- 
redations committed by the men under their command ; divis- 
ion, brigade and regimental ciuartermasters were ordered to 
receipt for everything taken Ijy them for their conunands, 
which would be paid u])on presentation to the proper author- 
it}', provided that the loyalt>" of the person could be proven. 
Officers and men nuist pay for anything taken by them for 
their personal use. The quartermaster sergeants of batteries 
were allowed to gi\-e receipts for forage, but they must be 
countersigned by the commanding officers to secure pa3'ment. 

Details were made each day to do the work, and the privi- 
lege of going upon the.se trips began to be much .sought after. 
The kind manner in which we were received by the citizens, 
made such excursions very pleasant for the men. 

vSeptember 2d we remained in camp near Big Emery River, 
resting and grazing the hor.ses until two o'clock in the after- 
noon, but the time lost in the morning was made up by contin- 
uing the march well into the night, it being eleven o'clock 
before we pulled off the road and parked the batter>- for the 
night. 

\'ery early the next morning we started for Clinch River, 
cros.sing some five miles above Kingston, and continued on 
towards Knoxville, camping that night about twenty miles 
from that place. 

Next day, September 4th, our battery countermarched some 
six or eight miles, and taking a road leading to Loudon, where 
the rebels were reported to be in strong force, in a fortified 
position, marched rapidly to that place. 

Early in the afternoon artillery firing in our front convinced 
us that at last we had come u]^ with the enemy. Two hoiu's 



78 

afterwards, as we came out upon the bluffs of the Tennessee 
River opposite lyoudon, we saw our cavalry crossing the river, 
under the protection of our artillery, and driving the enemy 
beyond the town. Before the arrival of our troops the enemy 
had fired the bridge over the river, and it was soon totally 
destroyed. 

Next day our infantry crossed the river and took possession 
of the town, occupying as man^^ of the fortifications as they 
could use, and destroying the rest. The battery remained in 
camp opposite I^oudon until the 15th of September, enjoying 
a much needed rest. Both men and horses had become thor- 
oughly used up by this long and difficult journey, which had 
just been completed, and the opportunity to recuperate was 
thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. 

The rebels in their hurried flight had left us a few horses, 
mules, and beef cattle, which v\ere appropriated by our troops 
with thanks. A large amount of wheat and corn were found 
in possession of the farmers, which was immediately seized by 
our quartermaster. A steam flour-mill in Loudon was found 
to be in perfect condition, and was soon at work converting 
the wheat into flour, which was issued to the ami}' for the first 
time on the fifth. Corn meal was soon added to our rations ; 
flap- jacks and corn-dodgers became plenty ; chickens and fresh 
pork could be obtained without much trouble ; and we were 
soon able to get up a dinner the quality and quantity of which 
was very satisfactory to us. 

September 14th orders were received late at night for the 
battery to be prepared to march at an early hour next morn- 
ing. The men were aroused bj- ' ' Boots and saddles, ' ' the 
battery hitched up, and marched to the railroad, where all the 
knapsacks, together with the chests of the caissons, were 
removed and placed upon flat cars. In this light marching 
order the battery left lyoudon at two o'clock in the morning of 



79 

the 15th. Our first camp was made near Knoxville, second 
at vStrawberry Plains, and the third at New Market, where we 
arrived early in the afternoon of the 17th. It be.t^an raining 
on the evening of onr arrival, and continued throughout the 
night and the next day. Happily we were not ordered to march 
and could spend the time fixing up our tents for protection. 
The cooks were ordered to prepare rations for a march on the 
following day. 

September 19th we left New Market for Loudon, arriving on 
the 2ist, having been ab.sent about one week, during which 
we had covered ninety-eight miles. 

The emergency which had occasioned this long march seems 
to have been of double origin. Our movement to New Mar- 
ket had been occa.sioned by a reported raid of the rebels of 
Sotithwestern Virginia upon Gen. Scannon, with the view of 
driving him out of West Virginia, and our movement had been 
made with the intention of leading the rebel connnander to 
believe that we were abotit to move upon him from the rear. 

The occasion of our quick rettirn was a dispatch from Gen. 
Halleck to Gen. Burn.side, notifying him that three divisions 
of Lee's army had been .sent to reinforce Bragg, and he desired 
him to go to Gen. Rosecrans' a.ssistance as soon as possible. 

September 23d the batter>' was ordered to cross the river at 
Loudon. Oi;r cros.sing upon this occasion was a long, tedious 
work, occa.sioned by the fact that it had to be accomplished by 
the use of one flat-boat, jtist large enough to acconnnodate one 
carriage and the team at a time, and the first streaks of day 
were appearing before it was fully accomplished. 

As .soon as everything was across, the battery started for 
Sweet Water, a station sixteen miles .sotith of Loudon, on the 
East Tenne.s.see and Georgia Railroad. We had just arrived 
at that place, when we were ordered to coinitermarch and 
return as rapidly as po.ssible to Loudon. We were all night 



So 

upon the road, arriving at our destination at daylight, when 
the troops were ordered into position upon the south side of 
the river. Our batter}' was placed in a fort commanding the 
approach by the road. 

The 2oth was a day of excitement among the citizens, wdio 
flocked to us in great numbers for protection. It was reported 
that the rebel Gen. Forrest was coming up the railroad from 
Athens via Cleveland, with a large body of men, and it was 
also rumored that a large force of rebels had crossed the Little 
Tennessee at Me^'erton, a village about fifteen miles to the left 
of lyoudon, which it was supposed would unite with the main 
column at or near this place. Skirmishing in our front was 
continued all day ; desultory firing to the left of our position, 
but at considerable distance, was heard, convincing us that 
the rumors which had been circulated had considerable merit 
of truth in them. 

Early in the morning of the 27th we hitched up, expecting 
an attack. A pontoon bridge had been completed during the 
night, and at daylight troops began crossing the river from the 
north bank and moved to the front, but it soon quieted down, 
and the day pas.sed wdthout further incident. 

Next morning cannonading could be heard from a distance, 
and our troops fell back, forming three lines, making elaborate 
preparations for a battle ; but, as on the previous day, the 
cannonading soon ceased, and everything became quiet. 

On the 2gth it was reported that the rebels had fallen back. 
Our cavalry moved to the front, while our battery remained in 
position upon Loudon Heights, with the three lines of infantry 
in front. 

All excitement had .subsided by the 30th, and although can- 
nonading could be heard occasionalh-, it was at such a great 
divStance that it had no terrors for the citizens, and they began 
slowly to return home. Se\-eral regiments of cavalry and 



mounted infantry passed our position on their way to the 
front. 

It will be of service for a fuller miderstandinii^ of our situa- 
tion if we spend a few moments in explanation. It was ex- 
pected by Gen. Burnside when he entered East Tennessee with 
the Twenty-third Corps, that the Ninth would soon follow ; 
but the surgeons' reports convinced him that this would be 
impossible, fifty per cent., perhaps more, of the men of that 
conmiand were down with malarial fever. The connnander, 
Gen. Parks, was very sick, and could not be expected to do 
duty for a month at least ; Gen. Welch, the second in com- 
mand — a man nuich admired by the members of the Ninth — 
had died from the di.sea.se, at Cairo. Regiments had been 
reduced until many of them could not nuister more than a 
hundred men for duty ; while the batteries could hardly find 
men enough to take care of the hor.ses. Truly, the .swamps 
around Vicksburg had proved to be a more destructive enemy 
than the rebels. 

Becoming convinced that the corps must be allowed to recu- 
perate before attempting a march so full of difficulties as the 
crossing of the Cumberland Mountains, he ordered that they 
.should rendezvous at Crab Orchard, and give the corps a much 
needed rest, but they had not had time to fully recuperate 
when Gen. Burnside's pressing need of more troops compelled 
him to order the corps to join him in East Tenne.s.see as .soon 
as possible. 

On Sunday, Sept. 20th, the advance of the Ninth Corps 
pa.s.sed through Cumberland Gap and bivouacked in Tenne.s.see, 
and by long, difficult and continuous marches, reached Knox- 
ville on the afternoon of the 26th. 

It was the timely arrival of the Ninth which enabled Gen. 
Burn.side to .send the Twenty-third Corps to Eoudon and ])elow, 
making a demonstration of such strength that the rel)el Gen. 



82 

Forrest concluded not to hazard an attack, but fell back towards 
Chattanooga. 

From Oct. ist to the 5th our battery remained in the forts 
at Loudon. Each day details were made to accompany the 
three wagons upon forage trips, and many are the pleasant 
episodes recollected of those occasions. Seldom did those 
teams return to camp without the carcass of a slaughtered hog 
or a fine sheep underneath its load of corn on the ear. The 
citizens had kindly planted a liberal supply of that improve- 
ment upon the sweet potato — those golden yams — and any for- 
aging trip which did not produce a large stock of them upon 
its return, was pronounced a failure. 

Most of the boys will remember trips of this .sort, when the 
distance from camp made it necessary that they should remain 
out over night. How gladly they accepted an invitation to 
spend the night with the people at whose hou.se they happened 
to be — if they received such invitations — and how persistently 
they demanded such hospitality from those who did not extend 
the invitation. 

It is well remembered by some of us how much we were 
embarrassed upon the occasion of our first experience in spend- 
ing the night with tho.se people. Most of their homes were 
log cabins, containing but one room, and as it most always 
happened that the family consisted of mother and from one 
to .seven daughters, it became a vexed question with us as to 
how the act of retiring would be accomplished ; and as the 
time for retiring approached, we became anxious. It was all 
unnecessary, however, for when the time came, the women 
aro.se, threw a straw bed upon the floor, with blankets, pro- 
duced a curtain, which they hung across the centre of the 
room, bade us good night, and retired to their .side, leaving us 
to go to bed at our leisure. 

Oct. 5th our troops fell back from Athens, and crossed to the 



83 

north side of the Tennessee River upon the pontoon bridge at 
London. 

Oct. 6th our battery received orders to report to our old 
divi.sion (First) Ninth Corps, at Blue Springs, di.stant abotit 
ninety-seven miles. It was reported that the enemy were 
advancing from Virginia, threatening our communications with 
Cumberland Gap, and on the 3d Gen. Burnside had ordered the 
Ninth Corps to oppo.se them. All the infantry were carried on 
the cars, and in order that the battery .should reach the object- 
ive point as soon after the infantry as po.ssible, they were hur- 
ried along at the rate of thirty miles a day. 

Fortunately our horses were in a much better condition than 
they had been for .some time. Since our long march to New 
Market and back, Sept. 15th to 21st, they had had but little 
work to do, and with liberal feeding on grain and much oppor- 
tunity to graze, they had gotten into very good condition. 

We left Loudon at noon on the 6th, and reached Bull's Gap 
about dark on the 9th. We found the roads in ver^' good 
condition, the streams were low, lessening the difficulties of 
fording, in fact everything seemed to work favorably for the 
accompli.shment of this long march. 

Oct. loth we pa.ssed through the Gap towards Blue Springs, 
but very soon came up with our division, posted in line-of- 
battle along Lick Creek. Capt. Buckley reported his arrival, 
and was told to hold himself in readiness to move against the 
enem}'. 

Soon Gen. Burnside appeared and ordered the line to advance. 
Our cavalry encountered the enemy a mile or two south of 
Blue Springs, and a rattle of mu.sketry ensued for a few min- 
utes, when the enemy retired to their reserve line and main- 
tained a fire upon our skirmi.shers. 

It was Gen. Burnside's de.sire to capture as many as po.ssible 
of the enemy, and for that ]nirpose he sent Col. Foster's brig- 



ade of cavalry around to seize and hold the roads in the Con- 
federates' rear. When sufficient time had been allowed for the 
colonel to reach his position, our troops in front attacked the 
rebels, and a sharp, hotly-contested battle upon both sides was 
continued until dark. 

Our men had succeeded in dri\nng the enemy from their 
position, and after forming in a new position were ordered to 
lay upon their arms during the night, prepared to assault the 
eneni}' at dajdight. Next morning our line advanced at da}'- 
light, only to find that the enemy had abandoned his position 
— Col. Foster not having reached their rear in time to intercept 
their retreat. 

Our battery had been in position all day, but did not open 
fire until nearly dark, when we threw a few shots at a rebel 
battery. 

Our troops pursued the enemy nearly twenty miles, Battery 
D accompanj'ing them. Cannonading was heard in the vicin- 
ity of Greenville .soon after we started, showing that the enemy 
were some distance in advance of us. It was nearly noon when 
we pas.sed Greenville, and four o'clock as we reached Rhea- 
town, about nineteen miles from our bivouac of the previous 
night. Continuing for a mile further, we halted for the night. 

On the 1 2th our cavalry reported the enemy .so .scattered that 
further pursuit would be useless. Early in the afternoon the 
battery moved back through Rheatown and encamped on the 
other side of the valley, in proximity to the troops of our 
division. 

Next morning, Oct. 13th, the army started on its wa}- back 
to Knoxville. Although there was no special haste in our 
return movements, it seemed to me that very good time was 
made by the batter3\ Our first bivouac was made at Blue 
Springs, near the battlefield, a distance of twenty miles ; that 
of the 14th at Morristown, a distance of twenty- five miles ; 



85 

that of the 15th at New Market, a distance of twenty-three 
miles ; that of the i6th at Armstrong^'s Ford, on the Holston 
River, a distance of twent>' miles; and that of the 17th at 
Temperance Hill, Knoxville, a distance of eight miles, mak- 
ing ninety-six miles, which added to one hundred and seven- 
teen, the distance from Loudon to Rheatown, gave a total of 
two hundred and twenty-six miles traveled liy the battery 
between the 6th and 17th of October — an average of a little 
more than twenty-two miles for each of the eleven days. Oct. 
1 8th and 19th, the batter>- lay in camp in Knoxville. 

Late in the afternoon of the 19th orders were received to 
have the battery prepared to move at an early hour next morn- 
ing. Requisition had been made for more hor.ses, and the 
division quartermaster had promised Capt. Buckley that he 
should have them promptly ; but as yet they had not materi- 
alized. 

Next morning, the horses not having arrived, the battery 
left Knoxville with only four pieces, one section being left 
behind because of lask of motive power. During the march 
cannonading was heard in the direction of Kingston. We were 
getting rather used to that sort of thing, and would not have 
been much surprised had the .sound of cannonading reached our 
ears from all points of the compass at one and the .same time. 
We bivouacked that night near Campbell's Station, about sev- 
enteen miles from Knoxville. 

Oct. 2ist our battery was in motion at daylight, towards 
Loudon. After passing Lanoir's Station we continued on to- 
wards Loudon for about two miles, where we halted for about 
an hour, after which we countermarched back to the station 
and made camp. Lanoir's Station at this time was a large — 
perhaps the largest — plantation in East Tennes.see, belonging 
to a Dr. Lanoir. Its land was very exten.sive and Ijeautifully 
situated. The station consisted of the doctor's mansion, farm 



86 

buildings, yarn factory, houses for his overseers, and a hun- 
dred or more negro huts, making a very sizeable settlement. 
Lanoir was a large owner of slaves, and, as maj- be imagined, 
a very pronounced secessionist. 

A good many of us felt inclined to forgive the doctor for all 
the hard things he said of and to us Yankees, because of his 
wisdom — from our standpoint — in planting such an extensive 
cornfield, many of us being willing to make oath that it 
extended for four miles along the road towards Campbell's 
Station — for our use. It certainly was for our men, and the 
doctor's part in it was simply that of an instrvnnent in the 
hands of a higher power. 

Oct. 22d we were ordered to Loudon. We moved out of 
park about one o'clock in the afternoon, crossed the river on 
the pontoon bridge, and camped at sunset. On the next day 
it looked a little as though we should have a brush with the 
enemy. 

On the 24th the battery wagons, forge, and all surplus bag- 
gage was sent to the north side of the river. The right section 
of the battery, left at Knoxville for want of horses, returned 
to us on this evening. 

Oct. 25th, 26th and 27th were days of perfect quiet. To- 
wards evening on the 27th we received orders to be ready to 
move in the morning. 

On the morning of the 28th all our troops on the south side 
of the Holston River were withdrawn, the pontoon bridge 
taken up, and the Ninth Corps fell back to Lanoir's. 

On the 29th our camp was changed a short distance, just on 
the edge of a fine grove of pine trees. When the battery was 
parked, the men were ordered to the front, and Capt. Buckley 
addressed them, .saying : " This spot will probably be our win- 
ter camp, and I desire that each detachment build for itself log 
cabins, from the materials in sight. ' ' 



87 

As soon as the line was dismissed, the men commenced stak- 
ing out their locations, and felling the trees preparatory to the 
building of their houses. The material was of the very best, 
straight as an arrow, and of about uniform size ; they were 
just what was needed for this purpose, and could be laid one 
upon the other so closely that it was unnecessary to do but 
very little ' ' chinking. ' ' 

Day after day the men worked at this hut-building, and as 
they progressed became more and more interested in them. 
An immense amount of labor was expended iipon these huts, 
the desire of each detachment to equal if not excel the others, 
resulting in the production of some very excellent cabins. 

Chimney-building was by far the most difficult and intricate 
part of the work. These were built of wood and clay, the 
base being built of quite large logs, growing .smaller as the 
chimney rose in height, initil as it neared completion the sticks 
were the size of ordinary kindling-wood. As the wood-work 
was laid it was thickly plastered with clay both inside and out, 
which .soon became as hard as a brick after fires had ])een kin- 
dled in the fire-places. 

By the 5th of November many of the huts had been roofed 
in and were occupied by the men. Improvements, however, 
were being constantly added, such as securing boards for floor- 
ing, and building of bunks one above the other. The making 
of mattresses, by carefully picking over pine boughs, removing 
the larger sticks, then with an old blanket covering the boughs 
and carefully tacking it all around, resulting when finished in 
a most delightful bed. 

The officers" quarters were of cour.se finished before tho.se of 
the detachments, becau.se they had at their connnand tlie whole 
mechanical ability and nuiscular strength of the batterv, and 
were occupying their finished huts by the 6th of November. 

With perhaps a single exception, the detachments did not 



occupy theirs, fully completed, until the 13th. Certainly no 
member of Battery D will fail to recollect that night ; seated 
around those fire-places in which were roaring fires, they gave 
perfect freedom to their imagination and built castle after castle 
of great magnificence, in which the certainty of a winter of 
eavSe, comfort and happiness predominated. lyUxuries were 
promised, a rumor prevailing that some of our enterprising 
scientific comrades of the centre section had secured a still, 
and within a week or two would be prepared to furnish us good 
Bourbon whiskey, at a moderate advance over the cost of pro- 
duction. We went to bed that night feeling that we had all 
the comforts of home that a soldier could possibly' expect, and 
were soon lulled to sleep by the contentment of our .surround- 
ings, and the delightful aroma of our pine beds. 

At daylight on the morning of the 14th we were awakened 
from a most refreshing sleep by first call, and almost inniiedi- 
ately were astonished to hear heavy artillery firing in the direc- 
tion of lyoudon. Each man sat up in bed and looked at his 
comrade. " What does that mean?" they a.sked each other. 

Just at that moment a member of the detachment who had 
been on guard entered, and was eagerly plied with questions 
as to what was up. He could only tell us that there seemed 
to be considerable commotion among the infantry around us, 
and that two regiments of cavalry had just pas.sed our camp 
in the direction of L,oudon. Five minutes of such cannonading 
as we had been listening to convinced us that this was not an 
ordinary cavalry raid such as we had been engaged in follow- 
ing for the past three months, and our hearts sank within us. 
Evidently there was trouble ahead. 

We were soon dres.sed, and hurried into line to an.swer to 
the as.sembly call. After roll-call had been completed and the 
line broken, the buglers were ordered to .sound " Boots and 
saddles," which thoroughly convinced us that we were in for 



it. Breakfast was hurriedly prepared by the men, and by the 
time it had been partaken of, the troops in our vicinity were 
in motion, going in the direction of Loudon. A cold rain 
which had set in .sometime during the night, added much to 
our depre.s.sion. 

From a de.spatch-bearer we learned that Gen. Long.street 
had been detached from Gen. Bragg 's army at Chattanooga 
and .sent north to capture or delay the Army of the Ohio, and 
was now attempting to cross the HoLston River, at Huff Ferry, 
just below Loudon ; in which effort he was being opposed by 
Gens. Potter and White and part of the Ninth and Twenty- 
third Corps, with succe.ss. 

From our information of to-day we know that these generals, 
together with many others in our army, and also the members 
of Gen. Burnside's personal .staff, believed that it was po.s.sible 
for us to prevent Gen. Longstreet from crossing the river, or 
even defeat him in battle, and .so expressed themselves to Gen. 
Burnside, who had astonished them by declaring his intention 
to retreat to Knoxville. 

Understanding the plan of Gen. Grant (who had succeeded 
Gen. Ro.secrans in command of the Army of the Cumberland) 
as he did, he realized that he could do Gen. Grant a greater 
ser\-ice by drawdng Gen. Longstreet to Knoxville, thus taking 
him away from Gen. Bragg, and making that general's defeat 
by Gen. Grant more certain. 

Our battery remained all day of the 14th in park, with the 
teams hitched up and attached to the carriages, expecting every 
moment to be ordered to the front. One battery of our divis- 
ion, Capt. Roemer's, moved out of park, and .started toward 
Loudon about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and again we 
looked for the expected order. 

Sharp skirmi.shing, with an occasional artillery duel, con- 
tinued all day. Just at night our troops adwanced upon the 



9° 

enemy and drove them back to their bridge-head, where they 
held them during the night. 

On the morning of the 15th Gen. Biirnside ordered a retreat 
upon Ivanoir's Station, and by daylight the whole command 
was upon the road, followed by the enemy, they pushing their 
skirmishers forward with considerable caution. At dark that 
night our army bivouacked at Lanoir's, and with the excep- 
tion of a rather vigorous attack upon our lines at ten o'clock 
in the evening, which was easily repulsed, we were not further 
molested. 

After dark on the 14th the men of the battery not on guard 
improved their last opportunity to enjoy one more night in 
their huts. It was noticed that there was none of that happi- 
ness and hilarity which had prevailed to such an extent the 
night before. The faces of the men expre.s.sed an amount of 
seriousness which had not been present then. 

The morning of the 15th still found the battery waiting for 
orders to move. Early in the morning troops of the Twenty- 
third Corps began to pass our camp, and as it seemed to us, in 
some confusion, but Gen. Burnside .soon appeared and restored 
order, after which everj'thing moved with clock-like precision. 

Ju.st before five o'clock in the afternoon the battery moved 
out of park to the road, and commenced its march towards 
Campbell Station. Not more than three miles had been accom- 
plished before we began to have trouble. The rain which had 
commenced the night before still continued, and had softened 
the clayey soil of the road into a clinging substance which 
made it almost impo.ssible to move the batter}-. There was a 
series of hills to climb, and our only waj^ was to take the horses 
from the caissons and put them on the pieces, and haul them 
to the top of the hill, and then go back and haul up the cais- 
sons ; this was repeated .several times before we had reached 
the railroad cro.s.sing. It was now three o'clock in the morn- 



91 

iiii^', and the officer commandin.^' the rear o;uard informed us 
that we nuist ,y;et ahead at once, as he should be unable to hold 
his position after daylight, as Gen. I^ongstreet's ad\-ance was 
close at hand. Capt. Buckle\' had in the mean time sent word 
to Gen. Burnside of our situation, and he had ordered some 
mule teams to otir relief. The teams soon made their appear- 
ance, and the mules were quickly hitched on, and we were on 
the move again. The wagons that had been left in order to 
send us (and also the other batteries) the mule teams, were 
burning as we pa.ssed them, as it was impo.ssible to move them. 

By this time it had grown quite light, and the rapidly increas- 
ing fire in our rear and on the left convinced ns that we were 
being pushed by the enemy. As an incentive to increa.se our 
efforts and hurr>- us along during the night, we had been fre- 
quently told that unless we reached the junction of the Kings- 
ton and Loudon roads l:)efore daylight, we should be cut off 
and become prisoners of war to Gen. James Longstreet. It was 
now long past daylight, and we were several miles from the 
junction. Forttmately for us our pursuers had been unable to 
reach that point. 

Gen. Longstreet had detached a colunni under Gen. Mclyaw 
and ordered him to proceed by the Kingston road to this point. 
Having secured a guide perfectly familiar with the road, but 
who, unfortunately for Gen. Longstreet's plans, happened to 
be a staunch Union man, who became so .strangely mixed in 
his liearings that when daylight appeared Gen. McLaw found 
himself several miles from his objective point. 

In the meantime Gen. Burn.side had sent Gen. White with 
his division out upon the Kingston road, with orders to extend 
his line to the left until it joined the right of the Ninth Corps, 
and hold the enemy until the artillery had passed. 

It was .shortly after ten o'clock in the forenoon when Battery 
D pa.s.sed the Kingston road, and continued on towards the 



92 

village of Campbell Station, noted as the birth-place of Admiral 
Farragut. Passing through this village we were ordered into 
position upon the right of the road, about half way up a long, 
steep hill, above the village. 

Just before we went into position our hearts were rejoiced 
by the discover}- of one of our pieces and its caisson which we 
had about given up as lost, fearing that it must in some manner 
have missed its way and been overtaken by the enemy. Ser- 
geant Gray explained his early arrival b}' saying that, becoming 
convinced that being obliged to render assistance to less fortu- 
nate teams was rapidly exhausting his own teams, he deter- 
mined to push on as fast as possible, and wait for the battery 
at the station. 

At this time Benjamin's battery of twenty-pound Parrotts 
was in position upon the right of the road, vsome distance below 
our battery. Gettings was on his right, while Von Sehlen was 
in position in line with us, on our left. 

When at twelve o'clock the enemy opened upon us, it was 
found that Benjamin's and Gettings' positions were not favor- 
able for their heavy rifled guns, and they were moved to the 
left of the road, upon higher ground a little in our rear. 

Our infantry was posted across the Kingston road, be3-ond 
the creek which ran through the village at the foot of the hill 
upon which we were. The centre was held by White's divis- 
ion. Twenty-third Corps, while the Ninth, which had retired 
from the front and formed in the rear of these troops, took 
position upon the right and left of this division. 

Benjamin, Roemer and Gettings opened upon the enemy a 
most terrific fire from their rifled guns. Our battery was una- 
ble to throw its shells far enough to reach the enemy, and was 
obliged to content itself with an occasional shot at their skir- 
mishers. 

We soon saw a heavy line of skirmishers advancing out of 



93 

the woods in our front, and with perfect nonchalance approach 
a ravine only a short distance from one of our batteries, carry- 
ing their guns at a trail. The coolness of the act made it 
somewhat doubtful as to whether they were friend or foe. 

Sergeant Gray, who was some distance in front of the bat- 
ter}' on the pike, took in the situation at once, and tried a shot 
at them with his carbine, and was severely reprimanded by an 
officer standing near, for firing at our men. A moment set- 
tled the question, however, for no sooner had they reached the 
ravine than they dropped out of sight, and instanth- there 
came the pop, pop, pop of their rifles, and the officer who had 
objected to their being treated as foes, had lost a horse. 

The rebels who had so boldly sought this position had failed 
to notice one of our regiments, which lay under cover of a 
building to their right, which position gave then an enfilading 
fire the entire length of that ravine, and in a few seconds the 
rebels found thenisel\-es in a place hotter than they had ever 
been in before, and one which they were glad to \-acate as soon 
as possible. 

Soon after the failure of the enemy to drive our centre, they 
made a vigorous assault upon the right of Christ's brigade. 
Ninth Corps. Our battery was ordered to change its po.sition 
and direction of its fire, to co-operate with this brigade, and we 
shelled the woods upon the right with such good effect as to 
check the progress of the enemy in that direction. It was 
while executing this movement that the men of our battery 
became thoroughly convinced of the utter impossibility of suc- 
cessfully manceuvering light artiller\- with nuiles as a motive 
power. 

No sooner was the attempt made to liml^er the pieces than 
each individual mule connnenced a performance of his own, 
entirely at variance with that of his mate, which soon resulted 
in a tangle that was exceedingly di.scouraging to the men. In 



94 

some of the teams half the mules seemed determined to run 
away, frightened by the bursting of the shells, while its effect 
upon the rest of the team was to create a determination not to 
move a step. Some of them were seized with an irresistible 
desire to climb o\'er each other, in many instances elevating 
themselves to such a degree as to lose their balance and go 
over backwards, in one or two instances falling upon the men 
who were trying to control them. 

An instance of the perverseness of these animals came very 
near depriving the battery of one of its most valued members, 
Sergeant Spencer, of the first piece, who found himself at the 
beginning of the execution of this order to change positions, 
with his gun limbered, to which was attached a team of mules, 
but without a driver, who had mysteriously disappeared. There 
were none of his companions present who felt competent to 
drive this team, nor did the sergeant himself have the utmost 
confidence in his ability to successfully manage them ; but 
something must be done, and that quickly. 

Riding up to the nigh wheel mule he seized the jerkj'-line 
— the use of which he knew to consist of a rapid succession of 
jerks when it was desired that the leaders should turn to the 
right, while a steady pull would cause them to turn to the left 
— and started the team. It was his desire that the gun should 
move in the middle of the road, but the mules preferred the 
side clo.se to the fence, and as they were masters of the situa- 
tion, that was where the gun moved. 

It was very uncomfortable for our comrade, the uneven char- 
acter of this part of the road constantly throwing the wheel 
mules against his horse and obliging him to lean for support 
upon the rail fence at his side. Very little progress had been 
made, and the sergeant had but just rested his hand upon the 
fence when a rebel shell carried away the uprights of the fence 
within a foot of his hand. It was a natural impulse which 



95 

caused him to remove his liaiul instantly from its resting place. 
This convinced vSergeant Spencer that it was time to assert his 
authority over those mules. Dropping the jerky-line, he rushed 
to the leaders, forced them into the road, and .soon had the gun 
uj) with the rest of the battery. 

This last po.sition held by our battery, was upon very high 
ground, overlooking the entire field occupied by both Union 
and Confederates, and save an occasional disappearance behind 
a ravine or into .scattered clusters of woods, the manoeuvering 
of the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps was in plain view. It 
was a grand panoramic martial picture which was itnfolded to 
our vision that afternoon. 

Tlie rel)el host, commanded by Gen. Longstreet, upwards of 
twenty thousand strong, compo.sed of sttch well-known fight- 
ing troops as McLaw's and Hood's divi-sions, of Alabama, South 
Carolina, Georgia and Mis.sis.sippi regiments, to which had been 
added for this occasion Buckner's division, commanded by Gen. 
B. R. John.son, had started from Chickamauga, flushed with 
tlieir recent victory over Gen. Ro.secrans, tipon a plea.stire trip 
up the Tennes.see Valley as far as Knoxville. 

Pardonably proud were the fir.st two divisions of that army 
at the record of their prowess and success gained i;pon manv 
of the hardest fought battlefields of the war ; and when camp 
riunors placed the foe opposed to them to consist of a single 
corps of inexperienced troops, it was not surprising that they 
should have entered upon this campaign with a feeling that 
there would hardly be excitement enotigh in the jotirney to 
make it interesting. This feeling was strengthened .somewhat 
when, upon arriving at Huff Ferry, on the Tennessee River, 
they foiuid us .so willing to leave their front and retreat. 

It is entirely i)robable that our foes entered upon this, their 
first battle with us, having very little respect for our fighting 
abilities, and a somewhat exaggerated opinion of their own, 



96 

forgetting that ' 'pride goeth before a fall, ' ' and that it is always 
well to respect your enemy's ability until you have proved his 
weakness. 

The independent, indifferent way in which the rebel skir- 
mish line advanced, has already been described. The advance 
of his main force in three columns, soon followed the repulse 
of his skirmishers, and then began to occur surprises of which 
our enemy had little dreamed. 

The eight or ten batteries of the Ninth and Twenty-third 
Corps opened upon their lines as soon as they became uncov- 
ered, with such an accuracy of range and correct judgment of 
distances as to keep the air in front and about them well filled 
with bursting shells and case shot, which must have convinced 
them that if these were new and inexperienced troops which 
were opposing them — which they had been told we were — then 
we must have made wonderfully good use of our time. 

It will be easy, they think, to brush asunder this line of blue 
which they see just in advance ; but this line of blue rises up 
and delivers volley after volley into the rebel ranks, absolutely 
refusing to be brushed aside, and in a moment our over-confi- 
dent foe is falling back in a confused, uncertain way, as though 
they were not quite sure what had happened. Indeed, it 
required one trial more before they were willing to believe that 
our troops would not throw down their arms and retreat at 
their approach. 

A second repulse convinced our enemy that a direct attack 
would not be a brilliant success ; he then opened his artillery, 
and began a series of flank movements, which were promptly 
and successfully met and frustrated by Gen. Burnside. 

About half -past five o'clock in the afternoon our battery was 
ordered to pull out of our position, section at a time, and com- 
mence our march towards Knoxville. The right section went 
first, then the centre, and last the left. During this time a 



97 

long'-rang-e l^attery of the rel:)els was niaking^ it very uncomfort- 
able for us. The twenty-pound shells were falling and explod- 
ing luipleasantly near, creating a great distiu'bance among our 
mules ; indeed it required the united efforts of our own men, 
together with a large detail of infantry, to control them suffi- 
ciently to limber our pieces. x\t last it was accomplished, and 
considerably after dark we reached the road, and made as rapid 
progress as possible towards Knox\'ille. 

This was our second night out, and it found every man 
thoroughh' exhausted. For thirty hours the men had not 
slept or partaken of food, excepting a little corn bread, and 
were covered with mud from head to foot, which the freezing 
weather had stiffened, making it difficult to walk, adding to our 
uncomfortable condition. Many would have lain down by 
the roadside for rest if the>- had been allowed to do .so, but 
infantry carefully jiatrolled the road and for a considerable dis- 
tance on either .side. Anyone found inclined to take a nap 
was arou.sed and started on his way. 

The battery reached Knoxville at about three o'clock in the 
morning, and went into camp near an earthwork, afterwards 
called Fort Sanders. The troops began to arrive about day- 
light on the 17th, and were as.signed to po.sitions in the defence 
line of Knoxville, by Capt. O. M. Foe, Chief Engineer, Army 
of the Ohio. 



CHAPTER VI 



The Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. 



THE site occupied b}- the Citj- of Knoxville, which we were 
to defend, was in front of a plateau of about half a mile 
in width, running parallel to and near the Holston River. 
This plateau was intersected b}' three creeks, First, Second 
and Third, giving the position the appearance of separate hills. 
First Creek separated Knoxville from East Knoxville, or Tem- 
perance Hill ; Second Creek separated the town from College 
Hill ; and Third Creek ran into the river beyond our lines. 

To the north and west of the town the plateau descended 
gradually to a valley or basin of about three-quarters of a mile 
in width, beyond which was a small plateau similar to the one 
just described, and of about the same height. On this ridge 
the enemy's forces were stationed, with their batteries at prom- 
inent points. 

The line of defence established commenced at a point on the 
river and ran at nearly right angles with the river to a fort 
which the enemy had commenced on a hill north of the Kings- 
ton road and about a thousand yards in front and to the right 
of the College. From this point it ran along and nearly par- 
allel to the river, across Second and First Creeks, over Tern- 



99 

perance Hill to Mahey's Hill near to Ik-ll's house, thence to 
the Holston River. 

Our forces at this time in Knoxville nunil)ered about twelve 
thousand effective men, exclusive of the new recruits of loyal 
Tennesseeans. The enemy was estimated at from twenty to 
twenty-three thousand, includino^ cavalry. 

In the line of our defence occurred the following strategic 
points : College, Loudon, Summit, Temperance, and Mabey's 
Hills, all of them of considerable height, and upon these hills 
were built forts of varying strength, tho.se upon Loudon, Sum- 
mit, and Temperance Hills being ba.stioned earthworks, pro- 
tected by ditches of considerable depth and width, while tho.se 
upon the other hills were merely earthworks without ditches. 
The parapets of all these forts were protected by cotton bales, 
covered with raw hides. 

Upon Loudon Hill was constructed by far the most important 
work of the entire .sy.stem. As has before been intimated, this 
fort was commenced by the enemy before Knoxville was occu- 
pied by the Army of the Ohio. From its strategic situation, 
coupled with the fact that the .single assault made by the enemy 
upon our lines during the siege of Knoxville was upon this 
fort, when a force of less than three hundred men successfulh* 
repelled and di.sastrou.sly defeated nearly four thousand picked 
men from Gen. Longstreet's army, it would .seem to require a 
somewhat detailed account of its principal features. 

There have been several different ideas expounded in relation 
to the build of Fort vSanders ( called by the enemy Fort Lou- 
don ) ; the atlas accompanying the War Records has been taken 
as the most accurate one, but that differs very materially from 
what was built as Fort Sanders. Capt. Poe, Chief Engineer 
of the Arm>- of the Ohio, laid out the works in quite an elab- 
orate st}-le, but on our arrival at Knoxville we went to work 
on the old fort that the Confederates had started, on Loudon 



100 

Hill. The bastion on the extreme northwest corner was where 
the members of our battery put in hard labor with pick and 
.shovel, and when it was completed we had a good defensible 
work. Perhaps it was not not quite up to the engineer's idea ; 
every fort is expected to have a berme, ours did not ; the west- 
ern face of the bastion was as near a straight line as possible ; 
the line from the bastion running to the Kingston road took 
a slight curve outward (or towards the west). 

The following are the dimensions as we knew them at that 
time, and by actual measurements : 

Starting at the northwest corner of the bastion it ran about 
south four hundred feet, then east one hundred and thirty-five 
feet, then south to the Kingston road, six hundred and seventy 
feet ; from the northwest corner of the bastion running east one 
hundred and fifteen feet, then southeast eighty feet, then in 
an easterly direction until it reached the creek at the foot of 
the hill. 

When we arrived at the fort it was simply a rifle-pit, but in 
two or three days it was in good shape. The irregularity of 
the site was such that the parapets of the bastion varied in 
height, the one on the north being thirteen feet, while the 
western front was twelve feet. The ditch on the west w^as 
twelve feet wide and eight feet deep ; on the north it was 
eight feet deep at the corner of the bastion, and ran back 
to almost nothing at the northeast angle ; on the south side 
of the bastion the ditch ran from eight feet deep to about 
a level where it joined the line running south. There was 
one embrasure on the west and one on the north side of the 
bastion. On the northwest angle the ground was built up so 
that a gun could be fired in barbette. 

The line running south was quite heavy, where it joined the 
bastion, and had four embrasures, which were occupied by 
Benjamin's regular battery. As the line ran down the hill it 



loi 

was lit;hler, heint^ al)()Ut four tVct with no ditch, or only a shiLiht 
one where dirt had been thrown up from the outside, except in 
two places where the ,^round inside the breastworks had l)een 
dug lower to allow a piece of artillery- to be ])laced and an em- 
brasure cut in. 

In front of the northwest angle of the Ijastion Ca])t. Poe had 
some telegraph wire stretched from stum]-) to stump. Some 
time after the siege was over a fort was built south of the bas- 
tion, so as to conmiand the ditch on the west, but during the 
siege there was no line of fire that coidd enfdade the ditch on 
the west side of the bastion. 

During the siege the Seventy-ninth New York had a plank 
laid over the ditch from the embrasure on the west, which 
they used in going to and from the picket line, and when the 
enemy was looking for a good place to assault the works, 
they saw some men of the Sevent>-ninth crossing on this plank, 
and came to the conclusion that there was no ditch in front of 
the ba.stion. Gens. Longstreet and McLaw both speak about 
this in their report of the siege and as.sault. 

All of the large forts, such as Sanders, on Loudon Hill, 
Comstock, on vSummit Hill, Huntington Smith, (M1 Temper- 
ance Hill, were connected by a line of rilie-pits ; on and near 
this line were built batteries for from one to six ginis, which 
could connnand both a direct and enfilading fire for a consid- 
erable distance in their vicinity. Battery Noble, located to 
the left of the Kingston road, below College Hill ; Battery 
Zoelner, to the right of Fort Sanders, conunanded the railroad 
for a considerable distance on the left of vSecond Creek ; Bat- 
tery Galpin, on the right of Second Creek, overlooked the 
railroad for a considerable di.stance ; Batteries Wiltsie and 
Billingsley were located between Gay street and First street, 
covering the ground near the depot and bej'ond ; Battery 
Clifton Lee, east of Fort Huntington Smith, together with 



102 

Battery Fearns, on Flint Hill, were in the second line of de- 
fence ; Battery Stearman was located in the gorg'e between 
Temperance and Mabey's Hills ; Fort Hill, the extreme north- 
eastern limit of our line, was situated upon Mabey's Hill. 

It must be remembered that upon the morning of the army's 
arrival at Knoxville, Nov. 17th, almo.st none of the immense 
work contemplated in the line of defence which we have been 
considering, was begtni. As fast as troops arrived and were 
assigned to their positions, they were ordered to select either a 
shovel or pick and dig for all there was in them. 

Early in the morning Gen. Burnside, in order to relieve his 
exhausted troops, and also hurry along the work as rapidly as 
possible, had started patrols through different parts of the town 
with orders to arrest every able-bodied citizen, white or black. 
Union or Confederate, and put them at work on the fortifica- 
tions. Relief gangs were organized, and the work continued 
night and day. 

By the 20th our line was in such a condition as to inspire 
the entire command with confidence that we cotild hold the 
town against any rebel force that might be brotight against us. 
First and Second Creeks had been dammed, the back water 
creating quite large ponds, the overflow from which made most 
formidable wet ditches in front of a considerable portion of 
the line. 

The pieces of Battery D remained in Fort Sanders from 
their arrival until the 20th, when the right piece, right section, 
under Lieut. W. B. Rhodes, was moved into what afterwards 
became Batter}' Noble. The lieutenant felt that he would like 
to take both pieces of his section, and asked permission of 
Gen. Ferrero to do so, but the general refused, giving as his 
reason that ' ' he thought one piece quite enough to be sacri- 
ficed." This remark, overheard as it was by the men, created 
in their minds the impression that in the general's opinion 



he was placing tlieni in an extra-hazardous position, and they 
were constantly on the alert expecting an assault down the 
Kingston road. 

On Wednesday, the iSth, the men of our battery, together 
with those from Benjamin's, and a large detail of citizens, com- 
menced active labor upon the ditch and bastion of the fort. 
During the afternoon we were joined In- the Seventy- ninth 
New York Highlanders. Lieut. Benjamin, who was appointed 
to the conunand of Fort Sanders, had requested that this reg- 
iment be assigned to duty as defenders of the fort, and it had 
been so ordered. While all of the regiments of the Ninth 
Corps had the thorough confidence of their comrades of the 
artiller>- service, the old vSeventy-ninth was held in especial 
esteem becau.se of its long .service, and it was very gratifying 
to have them with tis in the fort. 

The work upon the fort was pushed forward with the great- 
est rapidit}-. The men were arranged in details and required 
to work a certain number of hours, then allowed a certain num- 
ber for rest. In this way there was no ces.sation in the work. 

The morning of Tue.sday, the 19th, opened dull and cloudy. 
A heavy fog obscured the valley below the fort, and occasional 
picket shots made us very anxious that the mist should clear, 
that we might locate our enemy. The previous afternoon he 
had made his appearance upon the heights in the vicinity of 
the Armstrong house, where he had been held at bay for sev- 
eral hours b}' a force of mounted infantry and cavalry, under 
command of Gen. Sanders, of the Twenty-third Corps. 

Gen. Longstreet had ordered Gen. McLaw to force his way 
into the town, and sent reinforcements to enable him to do so. 
Our troops were linalh- forced down into the ravine below the 
Armstrong hou.se, and the enemy getting within easy range of 
our guns at the fort, 1)oth Ixattcries improved the opportiniity 
to shell them. 



I04 

Gen. Burnside was in the fort at the time, and watched the 
battle over the parapet. He went from point to point along 
the west front, speaking encouragingly to the men, advising 
them to "keep cool, fire low, and be sure and hit something 
every time." 

Towards evening the enemy ceased his efforts to push us 
further, seemingly contenting himself with occupying the 
heights in front of the Armstrongs. When the fog cleared 
we found that during the night the enemy had occupied a 
range of hills running from a point on the river .south of the 
Armstrong house, thence along our west and north front to a 
point on Second Creek, while their pickets extended nearh' to 
the Farw^ell road. A little later they established a battery upon 
this road and from it threw the first shells into the city. This 
line of the enemy was from three-fourths to one mile distant 
from our works, and as it became light enough we could plainly 
see their men at work throwing up breastworks for almost the 
entire length of their line. 

All day long the pickets kept up a constant exchange of 
shots, which near the Armstrong hou.se assumed the propor- 
tions of a fair-sized battle on .several occasions during the day. 

In the afternoon we raised a flagstaff in the fort and in a 
short time a flag was unfurled and heartily greeted b}' the men 
with cheers. The enemy desiring to honor the occasion, 
opened a furious cannonading upon the fort, fortunately doing 
us no damage. During this, the second day of the siege, bul- 
lets began to sing right merrih^ over the parapets and through 
the embrasures of the fort, a music which we were obliged to 
listen to day and night from this on for the seventeen days of 
the continuance of the siege. 

The morning of Friday, the 20th, was cool and misty. The 
enemy had been very quiet during the night and allowed us to 
get a full night's rest ; but at nine o'clock, when the new pick- 



I05 

ets made their appearance, they increased the vigor of their 
fire, causing the relieved men to hustle for all they were worth 
to get inside the fort. 

During the afternoon bales of cotton had been hauled into 
the fort from the town, and gangs of negroes were employed to 
roll them onto the parapets for the better protection of the men. 
The interior crest being only abotit four feet above the ban- 
quette tread, the upper part of the bodies of the infantry were 
exposed to the enemy's fire. The bales of cotton were covered 
with raw hides to prevent their being ignited from musket 
fire. It began raining during the afternoon, and continued 
well into the night, and, as we were without tents, it made 
our situation rather uncomfortable. 

A brick house on the Kingston road in the ravine below the 
Armstrong hotise had become a source of annoyance to oiu' 
men ; the rebel sharpshooters occupying it had from the win- 
dows kept up a most disastrous fire upon our pickets and 
the fort, the distance being abotit five hundred yards. 

Gen. Ferrero determined to destroy this building, that it 
should furnish no further protection to the enemy, and ordered 
Col. Htunphrey, commanding the brigade in its front to detail 
a regiment to proceed under cover of darkness of the evening, 
dislodge the enenu- from the house and burn it. The Seven- 
teenth Michigan, under connnand of Lietit. Col. Comstock, was 
chosen for this dangerous and difficult work. 

The sortie was made at eight o'clock in the evening, .so 
qtiietly and with such alacrity as to completely surpri.se the 
enemy. Many of them were captured, while others had very 
narrow escapes, such as taking advantage of the opening of a 
door by one of our men to slip under his arm and escape. This 
was not an easy thing to do, as many found, quite a number 
losing their lives in the attempt. 

As our men were returning from this successful a.ssault the 



io6 

eiieni}' seemed to suddenly realize what had happened, and 
opened ftiriously upon our lines with three or four batteries ; 
btit b}- that time our troops were back within the works, the 
light from the burning building enabling both infantry and 
artillery to pour a most destructive fire into the enemy's line, 
who, by half-past nine, confessed their willingness to call it 
enough for this day, by discontinuing their firing. 

Work upon the rifle-pits and north front of Fort Sanders 
was continued during Sattirday, Nov. 21st, strengthening them 
in every possible way. We were not molested by the rebels, 
and nothing worthy of mention occurred during the day. 

A rumor reached the battery about noon that the enemy had 
commenced the construction of a raft at Boyd's Ferry, some 
distance above Knoxville, on the Holston River, which they 
proposed setting adrift, hoping that it would carry away our 
pontoon bridge, and thus break our connection with the sotith 
side. At five o'clock in the afternoon Chief Engineer Poe 
commenced the construction of a boom, made b>- stretching an 
iron cable across the river above the bridge. This cable was 
finished and placed in position by nine o'clock on the next 
morning. 

vSunday, Nov. 22d, was j^assed quietly. Up to this time the 
pickets had been relieved about nine o'clock in the morning, 
but as many of the men had been badh' wounded while per- 
forming this duty, the commanding officer decided to change 
the time for doing this w^ork, to early morning before light, 
and this Sundaj' morning was chosen to make this change. 
The wire entanglement which had just been completed on the 
northw^est in front of Fort Sanders, proved its efficacy upon 
this occasion, for notwithstanding the men of the relief party 
were perfectly familiar with its existence, nearly one-half their 
number were sent to the ground before they were reminded of 
the entanglement. 



On Monday, Nov. 23d, two ])ieces of Battery D were moved 
from their positions on the northern portion of Fort Sanders, 
and placed in Battery Galpin, a small earthwork tipon the east- 
ern side of Second Creek. From this ])()int they covered a 
considerable extent of territory, reaching' from the pond made 
by the damming of Second Creek, along the railroad to the 
west and north for several lumdred yards. 

The section had bnt jnst reached this position when the 
enemy made an assault on Col. Christ's brigade, driving in his 
skirmish line, who, as they were driven back, set fire to a con- 
siderable qtiantity of combustible material which had been 
placed in the large ronnd-honse for jnst snch an emergency. 
This fire soon comnuniicated with adjacent btiildings, and 
created an illtimination which enabled onr troops to .see the 
entire field. This was not satisfactory- to the rebels, and they 
.soon retired. 

Ttiesday, Nov. 24th, it began raining at daylight. Dtiring 
the night the rebels had dtig and occupied a rifle-pit which 
gave them a flank fire along onr west front. This proved ^•ery 
troublesome, and it was decided that it mnst be stopped if 
po.ssible. As soon as it was light enotigh to .see, the Second 
Michigan made a charge on the enemy's new line at this point. 
The brave men of this regiment formed near the ditch of our 
fort, pushed rapidh- forward, reached the objectionable ditch 
and had nearh' de.stroyed it, when the enemy hurled a very 
heavy reserve force against them and dro\-e them back. Fur- 
ther to the right a .second determined a.s.sault was made by the 
Forty-first Mas.sachusetts and the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, 
our men driving the enem\- from the rifle-pits and taking many 
prisoners. 

On Wednesday, Nov. 25, the eneni}- made a determined effort 
to pu.sh forward their lines on the south .side of the Hol.ston 
River. It was evidently his desire to force us from our posi- 



io8 

tion opposite Knoxville. This would have given him the key 
to our position, and made it untenable for us. 

Thursday, Nov. 26th, the work of strengthening our works 
continued, and all of the intrenching tools were kept busy. 

On Friday, Nov. 27th, the enemy still appeared to threaten 
our troops on the south side of the river, moving their forces 
from one part of their line to another, but did not attack us. 

Saturday, Nov. 28th, opened cold and rainy. The water in 
and around the fort formed into quite heavy ice during the 
night, while men woke with a coating of ice on their clothing 
which occasioned them much inconvenience in moving about. 
All the afternoon the enemy were moving large bodies of troops 
towards our right, constantly pushing our pickets nearer our 
works. In front of the northwest angle of Fort Sanders our 
picket line was only a few yards from the fort. 

That the assault was near at hand, and must come in a few 
hours, we were all certain. That e\'ery one was on the alert 
was proven when at about ten o'clock in the evening a general 
alarm was sounded ; our artillery immediately opened from 
Battery D's section at Battery Galpin, under Lieut. Parker, 
around Fort Sanders to Battery Noble, occupied by the right 
piece of Battery D, under lyieut. Rhodes. 

Our fire at this time was only continued for a short time, 
ceasing as soon as we ascertained that the enemy were not 
coming. One of the greatest difficulties labored under by us 
was the ab.solute necessity of using the closest economy with 
regard to ammunition. 

This ten o'clock attack had been for the purpose of driving 
in our pickets close under the fort, where they now lay. This 
enabled the enemj' to advance within one hundred yards of our 
guns, and at that moment they were lying in a depression a 
short distance from the northwest angle of the bastion of the 
fort, waiting for the first dawn of day that they might ru.sh on 



109 

to what? — victor}-, they thought, but we had (juite a different 
idea, and our idea was nearer rit^lit than theirs. 

By five o'clock on Sunday morning', Nov. 29th, e\ery man 
in our line had been aroused, and was occupying his position, 
either at the parapets or embrasures. The third piece of our 
battery was located on the north side of the fort some two 
lunidred feet from the bastion ; the fifth piece was located on 
the line running south al)out one hundred and fifty feet from 
the Kingston road ; while the fourth had Ijeen mounted in 
the northwestern bastion, in Ijarbette. This gun, under com- 
mand of Sergt. Chas. C. Gray, was 1)y far the most serviceable 
in the fort on that morning, as will be seen as our story pro- 
gresses. 

All of the guns were loaded with double canister, and at 
half-past five the cannoneers were at their posts in the posi- 
tion of "Ready," every number four holding his lanyard 
taut, ready to pull at a second's warning, and send the gun's 
charge of death into the ranks of the enemy. 

It was a minute or two of half-past six when a signal gun 
was fired from the rebel battery near the Armstrong house, the 
shell passing over Fort Sanders and exploding in its rear. 
Instantly all the artillery in the enemy's line opened, and for 
twent>' minutes poured a furious fire of shot and shell into and 
beyond the fort. 

vSuddenly the firing ceased, and the cannoneers who were 
straining their eyes trying to pierce the gloom and mist of the 
earl\- winter's morning, saw our pickets hurry across the 
plank which gave them passage over the deep ditch through 
the embrasure into the fort, and rapidly fall into their places. 
Then we were certain that there was work before us. At 
this instant the first gun in the fort to fire — Sergt. Gray'.s — 
was discharged. 

During the twenty minutes cannonading !)>■ the enemy not 



ito 

a gun had been fired from our side, ever}' man ha^■ing been 
cautioned to reserve his fare until he could see or hear the 
enemy. Soon the cannoneers caught the sound as of the rush- 
ing of many feet, followed quickly by a confused soiuid as the 
rebels encountered the wire entanglement, over which many of 
them stumbled and fell. Then we saw them coming through 
the mist, and greeted them with the contents of our double- 
shotted guns. 

Sergt. Gray soon discovered that the position of his gun ( in 
barbette) was a failure, because of the ease with which the 
rebel infantry- could prevent his men from loading the piece — 
they being obliged to expose a considerable portion of their 
bodies in the performance of that duty. Ordering the piece 
taken down from its elevated position, the .sergeant had it run 
into the embrasure upon his right, from which he rapidly 
poured round after round of canister among the mass of rebels 
that were charging the bastion on the north side. 

Either the rapid and terribly destructive work of this gun, 
or the desire of the eneni}- to find some easier way of entering 
the fort, caused them to .swing away from this point around to 
the western front, and soon our sergeant noticed that there was 
apparently no eneni}- in his front. Not being of the kind to 
throw away ammunition, and having in mind the necessity for 
observing economy in its use, after taking the precaution to 
load the piece with double canister, and have the number four 
affix his friction primer, with the lanyard held taut in his 
hand, he awaited events. 

It was only a moment before the head and shoulders of a 
rebel officer appeared above the brow of the ditch, who, after a 
hurried glance around, sprang into the embrasvire, ru.shed tip 
to the muzzle of the gun and placing his .sword upon it, ordered 
its .surrender. William Mills, the number four, turned to 
his .sergeant and asked, "Charlie, .shall I let him have it?" 



" No," replied Gray, "don't waste a double round of canister 

on one d d fool." Not lons^, however, did the seri^eant 

ha\e to wait for more victims. Before his words were hardly 
.spoken three more brave rebels had followed their leader. 
Gray gave the order to " Fire !" and when the smoke cleared 
away not a vestige of the four heroes who had stood before 
that gun a moment before remained. 

This .seemed to quiet the enenu' on the northern front of the 
bastion, but a fre.sh column now commenced a furious a.s.sault 
upon the western front, the noi.se and confusion of which 
attracted the attention of Sergt. Gray, who, glancing around 
to the embrasure in his rear, discovered that the gun from 
a New York l)atter>-, which occupied it, was evidenth' in 
troul)le. Hurrying across, he a.scertained that the hor.ses had 
run awa}- with the liml)er, thus depriving the gun of annnu- 
nition. 

Sergt. Gray had the gun replaced with his own, and during 
the remainder of the battle, abh- and heroically .supported b}- 
the men of the fourth detachment, did such efhcient service 
that although many desperate attempts were made to drive 
them from their po.sition, none were successful. 

Benjamin's twenty-pound Parrotts had opened fire at the 
.same moment with our own, and were .sweeping the opposite 
side of the glacis with double canister. 

The infantry support in Fort Sanders consisted of the vSe\-- 
ent>-ninth New York and two companies of the Twenty-ninth 
Massachusetts. These men were posted along the parapets 
and angles of the fort, every place that would afford oppor- 
tunity- for a shot at our as.sailants being fulh- occupied. Full 
cartridge-boxes, with hundreds of extras, were placed in front 
of each man, to facilitate the most rapid work. Men who 
could not find a place in the line were employed to load mus- 
kets and pass them to their conn'ades who were in position. 



Soon we were in the midst of the very hottest work, the 
enemy charging in " Cokimn b}' division, closed en masse," 
and although the entanglement prostrated many, the weight 
of the column carried them over it to the edge of the ditch, 
the formidableness of which caused them to momentarily hesi- 
tate. Then it was that the terrific fire from the double- shotted 
guns of our artillery and closeh' posted infantry, delivered 
almost in their faces — not ten yards distant — caused them to 
melt away as grass before the mower's scythe, and jump into 
the ditch for safety ; but, alas ! no sooner had they reached 
the ditch than Lieut. Benjamin had some of his twenty-pound 
Parrott annnunition with fifteen second fuses brought into the 
bastion of the fort, and lighting the fuses with a burning stick 
the}' threw them through the embrasures or rolled them down 
the parapets into the ditch. 

Acts of heroism followed each other in rapid succession ; the 
brave rebels were making every effort to scale the twenty feet 
from the bottom of the ditch to the parapet, under the greatest 
difficulties ; digging with their fingers into the slippery surface 
they would raise themselves up the embankment for a short 
distance, only to lose their hold and slide back into the ditch ; 
and if perchance one did reach the top without being shot on 
the way up, the moment his head showed above the parapet it 
would be pierced with a bullet, and back he would roll into 
the ditch. Two or three times the enemy succeeded in reach- 
ing the top of the parapet, upon which they placed their flags, 
but they were instantly killed. 

An incident illustrative of the fierceness with which this 
battle was fought is described in the ' ' History of the Seventy- 
ninth New York ( Highlanders ) " : " Sergeant Dunn, of Com- 
pany K, owing to the excitement, had forgotten to withdraw 
his ramrod when he last loaded his piece, and it was fired 
with the charge. On attempting to reload he was unable to 



ram home tht cartridi^e. Two of the enemy were making 
their appearance above tlie crest, within six feet of him ; club- 
bing his rifle he flung it at them, but failed to hit either. No 
other piece was within reach, his companions were busy with 
their own work ; the enemy were nearly upon him ; time was 
precious. I^ooking hastily aljout he espied an axe ; it was 
but the work of a moment to seize it, swing it abo^•e his head, 
and hurl it at the approaching foe. It hit and knocked one 
down, while the other fell at the same instant, pierced by a 
bullet." 

It was now apparent that the enemy had enough, for their 
main attacking force had been driven back under the protec- 
tion of the depression just in front of the bastion of the fort, 
and those in the ditch could not stand the havoc which the 
shells that were thrown over the parapet were making, .so one 
of them .stuck a piece of cloth on his gun and poked it up in 
front of the embrasure, a signal that they surrendered. 

Sergt. Gray stepped into the embrasure and commenced to 
pass what men there were left through. In taking their arms 
and equipments he soon found some men with artillery equip- 
ments on, who, when questioned, allowed they had been sent 
up to work our guns ; but as we were not in need of recruits, 
they were .sent to the rear with the rest of the prisoners. 

About this time the enemy's artillery again opened on the 
fort, but ceased in a few minutes, when Gen. Burnside offered 
the enemy an armistice lasting until noon, to allow them to 
care for their wounded and to bury their dead, which was 
promptly accepted. 

How thankful they were to be relieved from their terrible 
position may be imagined when it is remembered that for fulh' 
an hour mo.st of them had been exposed to as terrific and deadly 
a fire as ever fell to the lot of a soldier to endure. Every stump 
within the northern and western glacis of the fort vielded from 



114 

one to two rebels, while those in the ditch still alive and not 
too severely wounded, made haste to get within the fort. 

"Yanks" and "Rebs" were soon fraternizing, discussing 
the events of the past few weeks. It was then we learned that 
our eneni}- had been told they had only new troops opposed to 
them, wdio would run at the first fire, and could be swept away 
from their front with very little effort. Their confidence in 
this story had been somewhat shaken after their encounter 
with us at Campbell's Station, when they discovered the old 
Ninth Corps was in their front. They were as familiar with 
the fighting qualities of this corps as we were with theirs, and 
began to realize that our encounters would very likely resem- 
ble the traditional one "when Greek meets Greek." They 
had been told that Fort Sanders was garrisoned only by Ten- 
nessee conscripts, and all they had to do was to yell like devils 
and they would run. Considerable bluffing was indulged in 
on both .sides. They informed us that they were coming again 
soon, and when the}- did the boot would be on the other leg. 
We assured them that we would be glad to see them at any 
time, and guaranteed them a warm reception. 

When noon arrived it was found that the work w^as not nearly 
completed, and the time was extended until five o'clock. On 
the arrival of that hour each side retired within its lines, our 
pickets occupying the rifle-pits from which they had been driven 
the night before. 

The lo.ss of the eneni}- in their attack upon Fort Sanders, 
as taken from their own reports, was 129 officers and men 
killed, 458 wounded, and 228 prisoners, an aggregate loss of 
815. Besides this we captured three battle-flags, and between 
five and six hundred stand of .small arms. 

Monday, Nov. 30th, the thirteenth day of the siege, opened 
with much le.ss firing from the pickets. It was .said that 
during the armistice of Sundav the soldiers on both sides 



had entered into an ag^reenient not to fire on each other's 
pickets. 

Tuesday, Dec. ist, some time before dayhght an alarm sent 
every man to his post, where they remained until sunri.se, when, 
as there was no demonstration on the part of the enemy, the 
men were di.smis.sed. During the afternoon there were indica- 
tions from within the enemy's lines of another attack. We 
made ready to receive them, ]>ut happily it did not materialize. 

Wedne.sday, Dec. 2d, the enemy pu.shed forward their lines, 
their pickets very nearly reaching the advanced po.sition occu- 
pied by them on the morning of the 19th. They could be 
seen erecting a new battery on a hill near the Clinton road. 
We sent a few shells at them, but the necessity of observing 
the closest economy in regard to our annniniition still con- 
tinued, obliging us to u.se it very .sparingly. 

At daylight, Thursday, Dec. 3d, it became e\-ident to us that 
the enemy were leaving our front, and rumors of the abandon- 
ment of the seige were current in the fort, nuich to our relief. 
Probably for the purpose of deceiving us, a rattling picket fire 
was maintained by the enem\- well into the night, which kept 
us at our po.sts, nuich to our disgust. 

Friday, Dec. 4th, the news that Gen. vSherman was advanc- 
ing with an army of forty thousand men, and that his advance 
had cros.sed the Tennes.see River the day before, made us all 
very happy, and when, at one o'clock Saturday morning, our 
pickets reported that the enemy were leaving our front, our 
joy knew no bounds. At daylight our skirmish line advanced 
and found that the enemy had departed. 

The siege of Knoxville was over. 

It is cu.stomary to date the commencement of this struggle 
between the Union and Confederate forces, on the 17th of 
November, that being the date on which the Union army 
entered Knoxville and beean the erection of the defences. 



ii6 

A careful consideration of the movements occurring a few 
days just previous to that date, will convince anyone that the 
siege practically commenced on the 13th, the date upon which 
Gen. Longstreet reached I^oudon, attacked our pickets, and 
moved down the Tennessee River to Hough's Ferry. From 
that moment until midnight Dec. 5th, there was no cessation, 
day or night, from deadly encounters, varying from the picket 
or skirmish fire, to that of the pitched battle, in which record 
will show as man}- men lost in killed, wounded and missing, 
as in any battle of the war where the numbers engaged were 
equal. 

Commencing also on the 13th, the soldiers of this arm}- were 
called upon to endure an amount of physical and mental strain 
such as men have seldom been called upon to pass through. 
Battery D's experience during this trying time was an average 
one. The record of its daily participation in the struggle of 
those three weeks is one of which its officers and men are 
justly proud. Not only were the members of the battery com- 
plimented by the commanding general for the excellence of 
their service, but individual members were specially compli- 
mented and praised in reports by other officers. 

The faithful and intelligent serving of the fourth gun, in 
its two positions at the northwestern bastion of Fort Sanders, 
was acknowledged to have been of greater service in repelling 
the enemy from that section than any other piece of artillery ; 
and when Gen. Burnside visited the fort with his staff soon after 
the flag of truce had been accepted, he personally shook hands 
with every member of the fourth piece, and thanked them for 
the gallant manner in which they had done their duty, and 
directed Capt. Buckley to apply at once to the Governor of 
Rhode Island for a commission for Sergt. Gray. 

The first piece, under lyieut. Rhodes, had done excellent 
work from Battery Noble ; the second and sixth, under I^ieut. 



117 

Parker, had done theniseh-es proud in preventino" the enemy 
from enterin.i^' onr works In' tlie ravines at Second Creek, while 
the third and fifth, under Lietit. Chase, had as tisual, done 
efficient service in their respective positions. The battery had 
certainly added much diu'ini;' the siege to its excellent record 
as a fighting battery. 

Battery D entered East Tennessee well supplied with cloth- 
ing, the men having re])lenished their wardrobes at Camp Nel- 
son, btit the long jotirney over the Cumberland Mountains had 
been so rough, and so filled with difficiilties, in the way of 
climl)ing the rocky and precipitous roads, the lifting necessary 
in order to get the heavy carriages over the rough places, had, 
to say the least, entirely destroyed that appearance of newness 
which the cloth had possessed a month before. Then came the 
twice-repeated march, almost from one end of East Tennes.see 
to the other, and it began to dawn upon some of us that the 
time was not far distant when we should be obliged to draw 
clothing to hide otir nakedness. We were told that a train 
was then upon its way over the mountains, and promised that 
as .soon as it arrived clothing would l)e issued. That was a 
train which was longingly looked for, btit never came. 

During the three weeks siege the men had no time to give 
any attention to their persons, and as may be imagined, they 
were, at the clo.se of the .siege, in a deplorable condition. Daily 
the expected clothing train was looked for, but it did not mate- 
rialize. Eortunate was it for us that we covdd not see into the 
future, and have known that it would be more than two months 
before we wottld see that clothing, and realize ftdly what suf- 
fering we would have to endtire from the extreme poverty of 
our condition in regard to clothing and food. 

Up to the appearance of Gen. Eong.street, before we had 
been deprived of the privilege of foraging, our army had been 
able to live upon the coiuitry. His coming altered that con- 



ii8 

dition of things immediately. As soon as Gen. Bnrnside 
became assured of the approach of the enemy, he ordered Coh 
Goodrich, Chief Commissar}', to collect all the beef cattle, 
hogs, etc., and drive them into Knoxville. The hogs were 
killed and salted ; the cattle were collected in two droves, one 
located near Temperance Hill, the other near Second Creek, 
in close proximit}^ to Battery D's caissons. 

Orders were at once issued to reduce rations. The Conmiis- 
sary, hoping, I suppose, to impress the men's minds with the 
fact that they were after all getting a fair amount of food, 
stretched his conscience as much as he could, and called the 
amount given us one- fourth rations ; but the old soldiers that 
he was trying to deceive were too well posted upon the size of 
a ration to be thus taken in. They were perfectly certain that 
a piece of fat pork about the size of their hand, together with 
a quart of flour or corn meal — ground cob and all — issued to 
last three days, but frequently made to last four, which could 
be eaten at one meal without the least .sensation of fullne.ss or 
the slightest indication of indigestion, was not only not a fourth 
ration, but was not even an eighth. Small rations, such as 
coffee, beans, etc., were discontinued entirely, the supply being 
so small that it was found necessary to reserve them all for the 
hospitals. 

Our flour ration was not a popular one, from the beginning, 
in consequence of the difficulties attending the getting it into 
edible condition. Before we were shut in we succeeded in 
getting along fairly well, because we were able to secure from 
our lady friends a supply of those rather essential articles for 
making good bread — leaven and salt. After we were shut in 
we found it impossible to procure those articles, and our efforts 
at bread-making yielded only a cake of burnt dough, which 
required a good appetite to enable us to eat. 

The enemy found it impossible to extend their line on the 



119 

northwest much beyond the Taswell road, and on the south tlie 
excellent work of a division, aided by the cavalry of the Twen- 
ty-third Corps, prevented the rebels from extending their lines 
much beyond their works, which left open to us the free use of 
our Ijridges and enabled us to forage along the French Broad 
River and out on to the L,ouisville road, both of which were 
kept open to our foraging parties during the principal part of 
the siege. The loyal citizens sent down the French Broad 
River a large amount of grain and meat in flats, and Capt. 
Doughty maintained a small force up the river during the 
whole siege directing the efforts of the people in our behalf. 

On our arrival at Knoxvillc on the 17th, we had a mixed 
moti\-e power consi.sting of mules and horses, but as soon as 
we had been assigned ]iositions in the works, we gave up our 
mule teams. They had helped us out of a bad hole on the 
road from L,oudon, but we had not taken kindly to them, and 
were glad to see them go. 

Our caissons were parked in the ravine near Second Creek, 
and all our horses but the wheel teams on the pieces, were 
picketed in a .small grove of pine trees near the cai.s.sons. For- 
age was short, and it was soon found that it was an impossi- 
bility to keep them hitched, as they would chew up every piece 
of leather that they could get at, and in a few days there were 
no halters to be had, and the picket ropes went with the hal- 
ters. They ate up all the pine boughs, and finally we had to 
shoot quite a number of them, as they were so near starved 
it was a mercy to put them out of their mi.sery. 

The departure of the enemy was very satisfactory to us. A 
person who has ne\'er passed through the experience of being 
confined within very narrow limits for a considerable time, 
under an almost constant fire from artillery and infantry, can 
hardly realize what a strain it produces on one's nervous 
svstem. 



To be continually upon the alert, prepared to dodge a shell, 
never forgetting to keep your head down and 3'our body out 
of sight, lest some sharpshooter should get a bead upon you 
which would certain!}' end your earthly career ; the constant 
screaming of the shells and the whirring of the minie balls, 
all have such a wearing effect upon the nerves of a man that 
he wishes something would happen that would make the other 
fellow quit and give him a rest. With us something had hap- 
pened — the other fellow had gone, and for the first time in 
weeks we could straighten our backs and walk erect. 

Among the very few pleasant recollections of that disagree- 
able time is the writer's remembrance of the affection enter- 
tained by the men of the Army of the Ohio for their command- 
ing general. His appearance at any time, day or night, along 
the rifle-pits, or in the forts, always aroused their enthusiasm 
to the highest pitch. His interest in, love and sympathy for 
them in their sufferings, conve>'ed to them in orders, conversa- 
tions and kindnesses, quite won their hearts. 

Many are the stories in circulation illustrative of the kind- 
ness of his heart towards his army ; true or not, they found 
read}' believers among the men. Personally, the stories were 
accepted as truthful by my young mind, and to-da}' I would 
not willingly listen to any argument or story which had for its 
object the lessening of my faith in the great humanity of my 
beloved general, Ambrose E. Burnside. 

On Dec. 6th the battery was paid, and for the first time in 
our experience we took no interest in receiving money. We 
had received pay more frequenth' since entering Tennessee 
than at any previous time during our service. There was ^'ery 
little to buy, and our stock of greenbacks had accumulated. 
It was said that the government's liberality toward us was 
occasioned by the fact that our pa^'masters had found them- 
selves at the beginning of the siege with a large supply of 



iiione\-, and desiring to be relie\'ed of part of tlie responsibil- 
ity, allowed the men to share it with them. 

After a carefnl searching for information, I am fully assured 
that the following brief account of the Confederates' move- 
ments from ten o'clock on the evening of the 2Sth to half-past 
eight on the morning of the 29th, is substantially true : 

At dark on the 28th, Gen. L,ongstreet sent a dispatch to 
Gen. Mcl^aw ordering him to douljle his pickets, and as soon 
as the moon had risen suflftciently to throw a little light upon 
the movement, to press our pickets back as far as possible. 
After having successfully accomplished this, he was to move 
the three brigades of his division chosen for the assault, to a 
depres.sion occurring in the topography of the glacis in front of 
the northwestern bastion of Fort vSanders, where they were to 
lie down until the signal gun should be discharged. 

At daylight Anderson's brigade, of Hood's di\-ision, was 
ordered to take po.sition about one hundred yards to the left — 
our right — of the fort, and in case of the success of McLaw's 
colunni, to break over our breastworks, wheel to the left and 
force their way through the ravine of Second Creek to the 
rear of Fort Sanders. If, however, McLaw was unsuccessful, 
Anderson was to wheel to the right after pa.ssing our breast- 
works, and take the fort by an attack in reverse. 

At the appointed time, as we have seen, the signal gun was 
fired. Wofford's brigade sprang to their feet, closely followed 
by Bryan's and Humphrey's brigades ; the Seventeenth Missis- 
sippi, of Humphrey's, and Phillips' Creorgia, of Wofford's 
brigade, leading the assaulting column, dashed forward to the 
fort. 

W'offord, who was to attack the northwest bastion, with his 
left well extended along the northern face of the fort, was 
.so disturbed by the phy.sical difficulties, including the wire 
entanglement through which he was obliged to pass, that he 



took so much distance to the right that the attack extended 
only about twelve feet upon the northern face, or to the first 
embrasure, occupied on that side by the fourth gun of Bat- 
tery D. 

Humphrey's brigade, with Bryan on his right, moved to the 
assault on the right of Wofford's, meeting with all the physical 
difficulties of the last-named, in their endeavor to get to the 
ditch. 

Anderson's brigade, of Hood's division, which had been 
ordered to attack the rifle-pits upon the left of Fort Sanders, 
became so excited and exasperated over the terrible treatment 
their comrades were receiving, that they rushed with impet- 
uosity toward the fort, and were into the ditch and suffering 
the same treatment, before orders which had been .sent them 
to retire from in front of the fort, could reach them, leaving 
man}- of their number in the ditch dead or wounded. 

As to the number of Confederates engaged in the a.ssault on 
Fort Sanders, it can only be approximated. Four brigades 
participated. Wofford's contained six, Humphrey's four, 
Bryan's four, and Anderson's five regiments. 

Gen. Jenkins, who commanded Hood's division upon this 
occasion, gives us the onlj- clue, when he states that Ander- 
son's brigade, which had been greatly reduced b}- details for 
picket duty, contained only about one thou.sand rifles. This 
would .seem to make the statement truthful, that four thousand 
men of the Confederate army marched to the as.sault of Fort 
Sanders on Sunday- morning, Nov. 29th, 1863, and out of that 
number, less than two hundred and eight}' Union soldiers 
obliged nearly twelve hundred in killed, wounded and prison- 
ers, to remain. 

Of this bloody work Battery D did its full share. The fourth 
piece did the largest part, becau.se of its situation, but the 
third and fifth did a work which cau.sed the rebel Gen. McLaw 



to complain of the damage done to Wofford's Ijrigade by guns 
on his left — our right — in the fort. The second and sixth 
pieces won this com])liment from a rebel source : ' ' That two 
guns, mounted in a redoubt on the left [our right] of vSecond 
Creek, fired so rapidly and accurately as to prevent his column 
from penetrating the ravine at that point." The first piece, 
in its position at Battery Noble, was too far removed from the 
scene of active operations to take a prominent part. 

Dec. jth we were ordered to prepare as many of our guns 
as possible and be ready to start in pursuit ot the enemy. In 
consequence of lo.sing .so many of our horses, we found it im- 
possible to equip more than four guns. These, with about 
three-fourths of our army, started at noon for Strawberry 
Plains. Capt. Buckley, Lieuts. Rhodes and Cha.se accom- 
panied us. The other two pieces, with the battery wagon 
and forge, were left at Knoxville, under connnand of Lieut. 
Parker. 

Following the enemy as fa.st as our impoverished condition 
would allow, we reached Rutledge about two o'clock on Dec. 
9th, where we remained until late in the evening of Dec. 15th, 
and then began a retrograde movement towards Knoxville. 
Our enemy had been encamped during this time about nine 
miles beyond Rutledge. He had now turned upon us. and 
rumor had it that an attempt was being made to flank us at 
Strawberry Plains, and Thursday, Dec. ijtli, quite a brisk 
engagement occurred at that place, which quieted down toward 
evening, and .some prisoners captured upon that evening gave 
us the information that the rebels were retiring from our front. 

We encamped for the night, and next day started for Knox- 
ville, arriving on the 20th, and went into camp on the .south 
side of the city. After a rest of a day or two the order came 
to have fifty men detailed each day to work on fortifications. 
This was a duty which the men did not reli.sh, and being .still 



124 

short of rations, and having very Httle clothing, it was a phys- 
ical impossibiht}' for the men to do even a half da3''s work. 

The weather was very cold, and man}' of the men left the 
prints of their toes on the snow as they walked. This was by 
far the hardest winter that we had seen in the ser\-ice, and 
when, about the first of March, we had a chance to draw cloth- 
ing and shoes, it was appreciated, and when a few rations of 
coffee and some " hard- tack " was issued, the members of the 
battery thought they had struck a bonanza. 

Notwithstanding the privations we had passed through, 
nearly two-thirds of the battery re-enlisted, and on March loth 
we turned in our guns and horses, and on the 12th started for 
Rhode Island, on a thirty days ftirlough. The men that did not 
re-enlist were left at Knoxville. 

We marched to the depot at two o'clock in the morning on 
the 12th, and took cars for Loudon ; crossed the Ferry at eight 
o'clock that forenoon, and boarded cars for Chattanooga ; from 
there we went to Stevenson, Ala., Nashville, Louisville, Jef- 
ferson, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Harrisburg, New York, and 
finally reached Providence on March 20th. We had been eight 
days on the road, having had several delays, but as we were 
going toward home, we found no fault. 

It was quite a change to us when we were told that we could 
now go to our respective homes for thirty days. It is needle.ss 
to add that we made the most of our leave of absence. I think 
most of us rather appreciated our change of diet, and it seemed 
as if those thirty days passed off very quickly ; but notwith- 
standing the good times we were having, on April 20th, every 
man but one reported in Providence to Capt. Buckle3% ready 
to again g^o to the front. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania — the 
Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. 



Leaving Providence at quarter past seven o'clock, on April 
2oth, 1864, we took the steamboat train en route for Washing- 
ton, where we arrived at dark on the 23d, and went to the 
' ' Soldiers' Rest ' ' barracks. 

On the 24th we took in the Capitol and other sights about 
Washington, and the next da}- went into camp about a mile 
east of the Capitol. 

The 26th we drew two government wagons, ambulance, and 
horse equipments for the officers. The men who did not re- 
enlist, and were left in Knoxville, joined the battery at this 
camp. 

On the 27th we drew horses, a battery of six Napoleon guns, 
ammunition, etc., and were now ready for the field; and on 
the morning of the 30th we were ordered to Alexandria, and 
arrived there in the afternoon, and went into camp near the 
city. 

May 2d, loaded the battery on cars and started for Warren- 
ton Junction, arriving there at three o'clock in the afternoon, 



126 

and were assigned to the artillery brigade of the Ninth Army 
Corps. 

The whole Army of the Potomac was in our immediate vicin- 
ity, under command of Gen. Meade ; the Ninth Corps, under 
Gen. Burnside, reporting direct to Gen. Grant, who was in 
command of the entire Army of the United States, and was 
personally directing the movements of the campaign against 
Richmond, and at this time, May 2d, had about completed his 
jDlans to cross the Rapidan and attack Lee's ami}-. 

On May 4th, the Fifth and Sixth Corps cros.sed at Germania 
Ford, and the Second Corps and Sheridan's cavalry crossed at 
Ely's Ford ; Burnside 's Corps was at the cros.sing of the Rap- 
pahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, to hold that po.si- 
tion until our troops had cro.ssed the Rapidan. 

On Ma}' 3d we got everything in shape for a forward move- 
ment, and on the 4th moved toward Brandy Station, and 
encamped near the railroad bridge for the night. 

Ma}' 5th, broke camp early in the morning, and moved with 
the corps across the Rapidan, at Germania Ford, and contin- 
ued our march until late in the evening. Since early in the 
forenoon we had heard the incessant roar of artillery and mus- 
ketry in our front, and during the la.st part of the march had 
passed large numbers of wotmded men going to the rear. 

On the morning of the 6th we hitched up at three o'clock, 
and awaited orders. At five o'clock we started with Benjamin's 
battery, and marched about four miles and went into position 
near some woods. There had been a constant roar of musketry 
since five o'clock. Our position was such that we could see 
but a very small part of the field, and we wondered why we 
were put in such a position, as the underbru.sh in the woods 
just in our front was so thick that we could not see an enemy 
until they were right on our guns. 

We remained in this position until nine o'clock in the even- 



127 

ing' without firing a shot. All day long the roar of battle had 
continued ; large numbers of wounded had been passing our 
position all day ; occasionally a stra^- shot would come our 
way, but nothing of any account. 

At nine o'clock in the evening we had orders to limber up, 
and moved about live miles out on the Chancellorsville road, 
and went into camp at three o'clock in the morning. 

On the 7th we hitched up at eight o'clock in the morning, 
btit did not move until dark : then we marched by the Chan- 
cellorsville House, and at daylight went into camp. From 
this until the 15th, we remained near this camp, going into 
position once or twice, but not firing a .shot ; in the meantime 
the infantry and cavalry with some artillery, had been having 
.some very hard fighting, but the large amount of woods and 
the contotir of the ground was .such that a small amotmt of 
artiller}- was used in the l)attles of the Wilderness and Spott- 
sylvania, .so that on the 15th a large ntnnber of batteries were 
sent back to the rear. 

We hitched tip at four o'clock on the morning of the 15th, 
and started for Fredericksbtirg, where we arrived in the even- 
ing, and encamped ; remained in camp the 17th, cro.s.sed the 
Rappahannock on the iSth, and next day marched to Belle's 
Landing, and remained there until the 24th, when we started 
for Port Royal, where we arrived on the 26tli. 

On the morning of the 27th we received orders to .send forty 
horses and twenty men to the front. 

On the 28th we turned over the balance of our horses, and 
loaded guns and cai.s.sons on steamer and started for Washing- 
ton, landing at the Navy Yard on the night of the 3i.st, and 
ttirned in otir battery, then marched to Fort L/incoln, about 
four miles north of the city, and went into barracks. We 
remained there doing garri.son dtity and having drills on both 
light and heavy artillery until Jtily 5th. 



■128 

On the moriiiiig of the 5th we started for Fort Sumner, on 
the northwest of the city near the Potomac, arriving there in 
the afternoon, and went into barracks. In the fort was a bat- 
tery of six thirty- two pound rifled guns, and we were given 
charge of these. The infantry in the fort were all one hun- 
dred day men. 

On the 7th Gen. Augur visited the fort and ordered Capt. 
Buckley to draw muskets for the men. We did not like this 
move, but had to "take our medicine." We had to smile 
when we saw some of the hundred-da}- men out on drill ; but 
when we went out on our first drill with muskets I guess it 
must have been rather amusing to the spectators. 

We appeared on dress parade with the infantry the same 
night we received our muskets, and it wasn't a success as far 
as we were concerned. Quite a large number of our men had 
been in the service long enough to get quite a good idea of 
infantry tactics, but on this occasion they failed to remember 
" just a little bit " of them. 

The next morning we .sent a detail of thirteen men and a 
.sergeant up the Potomac on picket. That night at about one 
o'clock we heard firing on our picket-line, and in a short time 
some of the infantry pickets reached the fort and reported that 
the rebel cavalry were driving in our whole line. 

Ever^'body was turned out, and there was considerable 
excitement. We waited for some of our men to show up, but 
they did not come, and we came to the conclusion that it was 
a scare. 

In the morning our relief went out, and when our men came 
in we found that two farmers had come down the road with a 
wagon and .some led horses. Our men halted them, but some 
of the led horses got away and .started on. The infantry pick- 
ets opened on them, and our men tried to stop their firing, but 
the more thev halloed the faster came the bullets. For .self- 



129 

protection, our men opened on the pickets, firing' his^h, and in 
a few minutes everythin^^ was quiet on the picket-Hne. 

Perhaps a slight history of the sittiation of affairs at this 
time will be of interest. The Army of the Potomac was be- 
fore Richmond ; Crcn. Hunter, commanding forces in the Shen- 
andoah \"alley, had moved up the valley and had met with 
good success, destroying the Central \"irginia Railroad at 
Goshen Springs and at Staunton, also destroying at Staunton 
the enemy's depot, woolen factory, government stables, and 
large quantities of army material, and captured fifteen hundred 
prisoners and three pieces of artillery. 

Here Htmter was joined on June 8th by the troops of Crook 
and Averell, who had marched from West Virginia by way of 
Warm Springs and Go.shen, making his available force about 
eighteen thou.sand men. On the loth Hunter started with his 
whole army for Iv>nchburg. Two days marching brotight him 
to Lexington, \'a., where he remained until the 14th, waiting 
for his expected wagon train, and then continued his march. 
Averell reached Lynchburg on the afternoon of the 17th, and 
Hunter's main force the .same evening. 

On the 1 8th Hunter attacked with all his available force, 
but was reptiLsed. From .some prisoners taken Hunter found 
that Breckenridge had been re-enforced during the night by 
the corps of Gen. Early (Stonewall Jack.son's old corps). 

Hunter was now in a tight place, and could not retreat up 
the Shenandoah \'alley, as the enemy had repaired the railroad 
and could now send troops by rail and hold Rockfish Gap, so 
Hunter re.solved to retreat by way of Bulford's Gap to Charles- 
town, in the Kanawha \'alley. Early hurried him along for 
a time, but .soon turned back. By this move the Shenandoah 
Valley was left open, and Gen. Lee immediately started Early 
and Breckenridge down the valley and into Maryland, and on 
the nth of July Early was in front of Wa.shington. 



I30 

Things remained quiet in our front until the afternoon of 
the nth, when our pickets reported that our cavalry was fall- 
ing back under quite a brisk fire from the enemy's cavalry. 
We had our muskets piled up and at once took our positions on 
the thirty-two pound rifle battery, thinking we could do more 
execution with them than we would be apt to with the mus- 
kets. At about five o'clock in the afternoon our men out on 
picket were relieved by some cavalry. 

We did not fire a shot from our battery, and only one shot 
was fired from the fort, and that was at a .squad of our own 
cavalry. The shot did no harm, as it went wide of its mark. 
The major commanding our fort wanted us to open on this 
.same party, but Capt. Buckley refu.sed to do .so until he was 
.satisfied who we were going to fire on. 

We felt rather blue over our .situation, as all in our imme- 
diate vicinity were new troops or clerks from the cit>', and we 
did not have much confidence in them, but we soon heard that 
the Sixth Corps and a part of the Nineteenth had arrived, and 
we felt that Washington was .safe. 

The night of the nth was quiet in our front, and on the 
1 2th only a little picket firing. Before dark Early had been 
driven back by Wright's Sixth Corps, and things had quieted 
down. 

About noon time we received orders to turn in our mu.skets 
and report at Camp Barry. Nobody objected to this order, 
and .soon we were on the march. Capt. Buckley and Lieuts. 
Bonn and Gray started ahead, and when the men under com- 
mand of Lieut. Chase arrived at Camp Barry, they had requi- 
sitions for a four-gun battery of three-inch rifles. We did not 
get our complement of horses, baggage wagons, ambulance, 
etc., until the next morning, but at five o'clock on the after- 
noon of the 13th we marched in pursuit of Early. 

We reached Tenallytown and went into camp, but the next 



morning we found that many of our horses were lame, and we 
had to stay there two da\s, working night and day to get them 
shod. 

On the 1 6th we started for vSnicker's Gap. Marched twenty 
miles, and went into camp at Edwards' Ferrw Hitched up 
early in the morning, cro.ssed the Potomac, and marched to 
Leesburg, and joined the Nineteenth Corps. 

Early in the morning on the i8th, we were on the road ; 
pa.ssed throtigh Snicker's Gap and went into camp near the 
Shenandoah River, l)ut later cro.ssed the river and marched 
aljout four miles and went into position, where we remained 
tmtil about nine o'clock in the evening, when we received 
orders to recro.ss the river and report at Washington with the 
Nineteenth and Sixth Corps. 

This movement was by order of Gen. C^rant, he stippo.sing 
that Early had started for Richmond, and wanting the Sixth 
and Nineteenth Corps forwarded via Washington to join the 
Army of the Potomac, then in front of Peter.sbtirg. 

We marched nearh' all night, stopping at Eee.sbtirg to feed, 
and then continued on to Goo.se Creek, where we went into 
camp, having marched abotit twenty- four miles. Otir march 
was continued for three days, starting earh' in the morning 
and making camp at dark. 

The 23d we .started at da\light and arrived at Chain Bridge 
in the afternoon and went into camp, remaining there two 
days, which gave the men and hor.ses a re.st. The weather 
had been very warm, and the du.st on the march was almost 
suffocating. 

On the 26th we had orders to .start back to Harper's Ferry, 
and we broke camp early in the morning and htirried along, 
arriving at otir destination on the e\'ening of the 29th and went 
into cam]:), the men and hor.ses being pretty well tired out. 
W^e omitted the evening roll-call .so as to allow the men to go 



132 

to sleep early ; but we were just a little vexed to get orders in 
the evening to be ready to move at three o'clock in the morn- 
ing — where? Right back over the road we had just come ! 

' ' Boots and saddles ' " were blown at half-past two the next 
morning, and we moved out of camp promptly at three o'clock. 
It was reported that some one in the battery, on being woke 
up and told that we were to retrace our steps over the same 
ground that we had covered twice since the i6th, made a \'ery 
profane remark, but on investigation the culprit could not be 
found. 

We marched that day until late in the evening, when we 
encamped in a lot alongside of the pike. Starting early next 
morning we pa.ssed through Frederick Cit>- and went into camp 
on the Getty. sburg pike, where we remained one day, and then 
started back, making twenty- four miles, and again went into 
camp. We remained there until Aug. 6th, when we .stared at 
daylight and reached Knoxville, having marched twenty-three 
miles. 

On the 7th we cro.ssed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, and 
encamped at Halltown. 

There were various reasons for the marches and counter- 
marches we had been making for the past fifteen days. Early 
had not .started up the valley as was suppo.sed, but was holding 
on to some of the fords, and his whole force was in the lower 
part of the Shenandoah \"alley. There were a number of gen- 
erals commanding certain .sections of the country in the vicinity 
of Wa.shington, and each thought that Early was sure to attack 
him, and if a .small cavalry force showed up in his vicinity, he 
immediately wired to Washington that Early's whole force was 
after him, and then everything had to "hustle;" but at last 
Gen. Grant insisted that one man .should take command of the 
whole, and Gen. Philip H. Sheridan was .sent from his com- 
mand of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac to 



take conimaud of all troops on the I'pper Potomac. Gen. 
Grant, on the 6th of August, ran down to Monocacy Bridge, 
in Maryland, and met Gen. Sheridan at that point, and gave 
him his final instructions. 

Gen. Hunter had just arrived from his long trip down the 
Kanawha \^alley, and his troops were at or near Harper's Ferry, 
having been delayed by low water in the Ohio River, and also 
by various breaks on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, from 
reporting as soon as expected. 

Gen. Halleck had sent one or two sharp telegraph orders to 
Hunter, hurrying him up, so Hunter, as soon as he had his 
troops at the Ferry, .sent his resignation to Wa.shington, and it 
was accepted, and the army lost a good general. 

Sheridan's army consisted of the Sixth Corps, connuanded 
by Maj. Gen. Wright, its three divisions by Gens. Rus.sell, 
Getty and Rickets ; one division of the Nineteenth Corps, 
Maj. Gen. Emory commanding corps, Gen. Dwight command- 
ing division ( the .second division of the Nineteenth Corps, 
Gen. Grover, arrived on the iSth of August) ; Army of West 
\'irginia (Eighth Corps), Gen. Crook commanding, Gens. 
Thoburn and Duval as division commanders. The cavalry 
consisted of Gen. Torbert's division and Averell's ; Torbert 
was appointed as Chief of Cavalry, with Merritt and Averell 
conmianding divisions. 

The rebel force in the \alley con.si.sted of "Stonewall " Jack- 
son's old corps, now ccMumanded by Early, with Gens. Rodes, 
Ransom and Gordon connnanding divisions. Breckenridge's 
division, three battalions of artillery and one corps of cavalry 
connnanded by Gen. Lomax, with \"aughn, John.son, McCaus- 
land and Imboden as brigade commanders. 

I quote from Sheridan's Memoirs the following description 
of the Shenandoah \''alley, that the reader may have a better 
idea of the diflferent movements of the arniv : 



^34 

" The valley has its northern limit alonj^ the Potomac between McCoy's 
ferry at the eastern base of the North Monntain, and Harper's Ferry at 
the western base of the Blue Ridge. The southern limit is south of vStaun- 
ton, on the divide which separates the waters flowing into the Potomac 
from those that run to the James. The western boundary is the eastern 
slope of the Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge ; these 
two distinct mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch 
of quite open, undulating country varying in width from the northern to 
the southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of 
heavy woods. 

" At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, and on an east 
and west line drawn through Winchester about forty-five, while at Stras- 
burg it narrrows down to about twenty-five. Just southeast of Strasburg, 
which is nearly midway between the eastern and western walls of the 
valley, rises an abrupt range of mountains called Massanutten, consist- 
ing of several ridges which extend southward between the North and 
South p-orks of the vShenandoah River until, losing their identity, they 
merge into lower but broken ground between New Market and Harris- 
onburg. The Massanutten ranges, with their spurs and hills, divide the 
Senandoah Valley into two valleys, the one next the Blue Ridge being 
called the 'L/Ura.y, while that next the North Mountain retains the name 
of Shenandoah. 

" A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Mary- 
land, to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the 
interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and 
along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the Shen- 
andoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to the 
mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward the 
Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones lead to 
the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, Ashby's, Ma- 
nassas, Chester, Thornton's, Swift Run, Brown's and Rockfish Gaps, 
tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps are low and 
easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army coming from 
eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating west of the Blue 
Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank attack ; for the Con- 
federates could readily be brought by rail to Gordonsville and Charlottes- 
ville, from which point they could move with such celerity through the 
Blue Ridge that, on more than one occasion, the vShenandoah Valley has 
been the theatre of Confederate success, due greatly to the advantage of 
possessing these interior lines." 



^s5 

As before stated, our battery arrived at Halltown on the yth 
of August. We put our guns in position and remained there 
three days. 

On the 9th, Lieut. Gray was detailed as Ordnance Officer, 
Artillery Brigade, Nineteenth Army Corps. 

The loth we moved with our corps to Berryville, and on the 
morning of the iith we made a forward movement, Sheridan 
intending to force Karly into a fight. Early was not willing 
to accept a battle, and moved his army up the valley. 

We followed as far as Cedar Creek, and on the afternoon of 
the 13th had quite a lively bru.sh with Early's rear guard, we 
only firing a few shots. We remained there until the evening 
of the 15th, when we moved out of camp at ten o'clock, and 
reached Winchester at daylight, and went into po.sition, where 
we remained until the morning of the 17th, when we moved 
back to Berryville. 

Next morning we retired about four miles and formed line- 
of-battle, Crook on the left, Emory in the centre, and Wright 
on the right. This retrograde movement was caused by Sheri- 
dan receiving notice that Kershaw's divi.sion of infantry and 
two brigades of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry were on the way to 
re-enforce Early, and at that time, the i6th, had reached Front 
Royal, where Merritt, with his cavalry, was disputing their 
advance. 

Early, as .soon as he found that vSheridan had fallen back, 
put his force in motion, and lost no time in following us down 
the valley, and from this until the 19th, our army was on the 
defensive. We were at or near Halltown, where .several .skir- 
mishes occurred, we firing only a few shots, however. 

On the 3d of vSeptember all the three-years men wlio had 
not re-enlisted were mustered out at Charlestown, and went 
home under the charge of Capt. Buckley. 

Sheridan learned on the i6th that Kershaw's division of 



136 

infantry and Cutshaw's artillery had been returned to Rich- 
mond, and he immediately made preparations for a forward 
movement ; and on the morning of the 19th his cavalry forced 
the Berry ville crossing of the Opequon, followed by the Sixth, 
Eighth and Nineteenth Corps. The enemy was posted in line- 
of-battle, and in a short time the engagement became general. 
It was nearly dark before Early was fairly beaten and sent 
' ' whirling through Winchester. 

Our part in this important victory may be seen in part from 
the report of Capt. E. D. Taft, Chief of Artillery, Nineteenth 
Army Corps : 

" Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery, by my direction, took position 
in a skirt of woods on the right of the Nineteenth Army Corps, and imme- 
diately opened fire on one of the enemy's batteries, then enfilading our 
lines on the right, when the enemy opened fire from two gvms in the wood 
with canister, about two hundred yards distant and in rear of our line of 
infantry. The battery soon silenced these two guns, and then renewed the 
fire on the battery enfilading our line, silencing it for a short period, but 
the infantry falling back for want of ammunition rendered the position 
unsafe for artillery. The battery had whilst in this position, although 
under a severe fire front and left oblique, been gallantly fought. The 
support having retired, and the battery having lost four men and six 
horses and one wheel broken, I ordered it to withdraw, which was done 
in good order. This closed the operations of these batteries for the day." 

Capt. Taft's report is wrong in one partictilar. When our 
infantr}^ fell back, Capt. Taft did ride up to our battery and 
tell the commanding officer to hold his position as long as 
possible, but look out and not lose his pieces, and then rode 
away. We soori had orders to limber up. 

At this time some infantry in our front was showing up 
rather near our position. As we were afraid they would get at 
us before we could get throtigh the woods, we thotight that 
a few rotmds of canister, rightly distribttted, wottld give them 
a check and allow tis to retire. 



137 

Lieut. Bonn was in command of the right section, and Lieitt. 
Gray of the left. Lieut. Gray was still on detached duty, but 
came up while we were halted in the woods and took his sec- 
tion into the fight. We promptly commenced to distribute 
canister among the infantry in our front, and the>- soon took 
shelter under the l)ank of Red Bud Run. Just at this time 
Lieut. Gray's left piece was di.sabled by a shot, and he .sent it 
to the rear, but retained the cannoneers to help on the other 
pieces. It was now decided that we could pull out. 

The right .section pulled out, and the right piece of the left 
section was about to limber up, when a shot from a twent>-- 
pound Parrott that was across the Red Bud Run pa.ssed entirely 
through the .swing horses. We had to sta}-, then, and Sergt. 
Tucker and his men needed no orders to commence firing 
again. 

We .soon expended all our canister, and had to u.se .solid .shot 
as our .shell had given out some time before. The infantry 
that was under the bank to our right and front now conunenced 
to give us .some trouble, and we began to think that we had 
staid too long ; btit we would shy a .shot along the bank and 
they would lay low ; meantime we were hurrying to get our 
dead horses on the limber clear, but it was a slow job. 

About this time an officer rode out of the woods in our rear 
and gave us the welcome news that a brigade of the Eighth 
Corps was close at hand ; and in a minute or two we saw them 
coming on the double-quick. When they arrived we cea.sed 
firing and limbered up, and taking the harnesses from our 
dead horses, we .soon joined the rest of the battery. When our 
lines advanced, we were ordered to move with them, and we 
had quite a good view of the final rout of Early's army. We 
went into camp for the night just outside of Winchester. 

On the morning of the 20th we started early in pursuit of 
the enemy, and on arrival at vStrasburg went into camp. Gen. 



138 

Early was found in position just in our front at Fisher's Hill, 
strongly fortified. His position was almost impregnable from 
an attack in front, so Sheridan sent the Eighth Corps around 
his left to take the position by flanking it. It took until the 
afternoon of the 23d to get the Eighth Corps into position, as 
they had to make most of the movements through thick woods, 
and keep out of sight of the rebels' signal stations. On the 
afternoon of the 23d the Eighth Corps charged down on to 
Early's left flank and routed it. The moyements in our front 
were to help carry out this project. 

On the morning of the 23d our corps was advanced, and at 
three o'clock in the afternoon Grover's division drove in the 
skirmish line in our front and formed in line-of -battle. Some 
two hundred 3'ards in our front was a ridge, and the rebel 
sharpshooters took up their position on this ridge, and made it 
very uncomfortable for us. The third brigade, second divis- 
ion, Nineteenth Corps, soon made a charge and captured this 
position, which was within three hundred yards of the enemy's 
fortifications. 

Gens. Sheridan and Grover were at the right of our battery 
when the infantry carried the hill. vSheridan wanted a piece 
of artillery sent out there, and Gen. Grover came and asked 
Lieut. Chase if he could put a piece on that ridge. Eieut. 
Gray was sent to see if it was possible to do so. Dismounting 
just before the top of the ridge was reached, he left his horse 
in charge of an orderly and took to all fours to do the rest of 
the distance. 

There was quite a depression on the top of the ridge, and 
just on the other edge was a slight rifle-pit that had been 
hastily thrown up by the enemy. Our skirmishers were occu- 
pying this, and it was quite necessary to keep well down, as 
the enemy's infantry and artillery were within short range, 
and were giving this particular .spot very close attention. 



'39 

Beconiinja: convinced that if a piece could be put into this 
depression it would do good execution, Lieut. Gray gave the 
signal, and Sergt. Tucker with his piece started on the gallop 
and was soon there, the piece being halted before the top of 
the ridge was reached. The pickets kept up a sharp fire .so as 
to have the smoke hide our movements, and we ran the piece 
b\- hand into the depression and filled both ha\'ersacks with 
anununition and loaded. We had a sure mark, and when we 
.sent that .shell into the earthwork in our front, it made things 
jingle. The enemy was not slow in returning the compliment, 
and as they had eight or ten guns in our immediate front, we 
laid low, but ju.st as soon as we thought they had fired every- 
thing, we repeated the experiment before they had loaded. 

We had been in this position about fifteen or twenty minutes 
when Gens. Sheridan and Grover ran over the ridge and took 
shelter in the depre.s.sion just to our right. Sheridan was anx- 
ious to see the whole situation, and crawled up to the skirmish 
line, .some ten feet in advance of us. Gen. Grover soon joined 
him, and just about this time a shot from a twenty-pound 
Parrott ploughed through the .slight ridge within a foot of 
Sheridan's head, covering him with dirt. He rolled over on 
his side, and we thought he was woiuided, but he was only 
getting the dirt out of his ear and neck ; he came back, though, 
and took his po.sition by the .side of our piece. 

In a few minutes we heard cheers on our right and .soon .saw 
the enenn- breaking all along the line. We sent .shot after 
shot in quick succe.ssion, but were told to stop firing. Soon our 
corps came .sweeping over the ridge and down the other side. 

vSheridan now wanted his hor.se, but could not see it, .so 
Lieut. Gray let him take his, but regretted it in a moment, as 
Sheridan went da.shing down the hill over stumps and fallen 
trees, and we expected to .see horse and rider take a tumble, 
but thev were .soon out of siy-ht. 



140 

We limbered up and went back to where the remainder of 
the battery was, and then started over to the pike and joined 
our division. We marched nearly all night and then went 
into camp at Woodstock, to get a little sleep and some rations. 

At two o'clock in the afternoon we started again and reached 
Edenburg, where toward night we fired a few shots and then 
encamped. In the morning we were away early, and marched 
all day, going into position two or three times and firing a few 
shots, but apparently doing the enemy no great harm. The 
next day we marched to Mount Jackson, having quite a skir- 
mi.sh in the afternoon. 

On the morning of the 29th we started at nine o'clock, and 
on reaching Harrisonburg, went into camp, remaining there 
until the 6th of October, occupying the time in foraging for 
our horses. 

On the morning of the 30th Lieut. Gray took nine mounted 
men from the battery, armed with revolvers, and started out 
into the country to .secure .some hor.ses that he had .seen the 
day before, but on arriving where he had .seen the horses he 
found the natives had run them off to the mountains. Follow- 
ing the trail for about seven miles we ran across a few strag- 
gling rebel cavalrymen, several of whom were captured, and 
also a number of horses. 

We continued on until we were about fifteen or .sixteen miles 
from camp, when we stopped at a farmhouse and had dinner 
and fed our hor.ses. We then started toward camp again, but 
by a different road than that on which we came. We had two 
or three quite sharp skirmi.shes with squads of rebel cavalry, 
and about du.sk Billy Mills, who was in the advance, rode back 
bringing the information that there was a company of rebel 
cavalry drawn up on the side of the road with the intention of 
ob.structing our pa.s.sage. We had at this time nine rebel cav- 
alrymen as prisoners and twenty- three hor.ses. 



141 

The line was iiniuediately halted, and Lient. Cxray rode ahead 
to reconnoiter. When he arrived at the edge of the woods he 
fonnd a company of rebels drawn up in line in a large field 
adjoining the road. On looking over the situation he found 
that the fence in the rear and on the left had been taken down, 
to allow egress from the lot, which gave him the impression that 
the force there had some doubt as to the numl:)er of our men. 

Riding back, the colunui was started forward, following the 
road until close to the edge of the woods where we could be seen 
from the lots. We filed by twos from the road into the woods 
and made a short countermarch on to the road and into the 
woods again, which manrjeuvre made it look as if we had two 
companies. On moving into the woods the .second time, all the 
rebel cavalrymen were dismounted, their arms strapped to each 
other and ordered to sit down, and one man left as guard. 

The darkies that had been confi.scated to take care of the 
spare hor.ses, twelve in number, were motmted on them, and a 
line was formed at the edge of the woods, consisting of twenty 
men, nine of us and elex'en darkies .sandwiched in, the other 
darkey being left to look after the hor.ses. These arrange- 
ments were not quite .satisfactory to .some of the darkies ; but 
they were told that when we started out of the woods they 
must keep well up in the line or get shot. 

An order was given to charge, every man was told to halloo 
as loud as he could yell, and ride straight for the line of the 
rebel cavalry. The .scheme worked like a charm. The rebel 
line soon broke and fled to the woods, we in hot pursuit, cap- 
turing three, two .seriou.sly wounded, while our lo.ss was one 
darkey shot, and slight wounds on two hor.ses. We .soon col- 
lected our men together and .sent them back to the woods under 
command of vSergt. Tucker. 

I^ieut. Gray and Mills rode down to the town to see if there 
were an>- rebels there, we having .seen a squad of men leaving 



142 

there a few minutes before we had our brush with the company 
of cavalry. Both Lieut. Gray and Mills had on rebel vmifornis, 
and they soon had information that the body of men which had 
left the town a few minutes before were Yankees, which infor- 
mation was pleasing to them. 

Mills was immediately sent back to ha\'e the line moved for- 
ward, and we soon entered the town. Lieut. Gra}^ sat on his 
horse with a dozen people around him, who were giving w^hat 
information they could, and urging him to hurry so as to cap- 
ttire some of the Yankees that had left a few minutes before. 
The squad of men we saw leaving the town was Lieut. Corthell 
and some men from Battery G, of our regiment. When our 
line came up there was a look of astonishment on the faces of 
some of the people when the}' fotmd we were Yankees. 

We arrived in camp about eight o'clock with twenty-eight 
horses and thirteen rebel cavalrymen, which we considered a 
good day's work for ten light artillerymen. 

On the morning of the 6th Sheridan started his army down 
the valle}', having done all the damage with his cavalry that 
he could in this neighborhood. We bivouacked at Mount 
Jackson, and started the next morning and reached Woodstock 
late in the evening. 

On the morning of the 8th we hitched up early, but did not 
move. We soon learned that Sheridan had made up his mind 
to give the rebel cavalry another lesson. 

Gen. Rosser had just arrived in the valley with his brigade, 
and he was put in command of all the cavalr}'. Since leaving 
Harri.sonburg they had been annoying our rear guard, so Sher- 
idan sent word to Torbert on the evening of the 7th to "give 
Ro.sser a drubbing in the morning, or get whipped yourself, 
and the infantry will be halted until the affair is over." 

Torbert had the divisions of Merritt and Custer, and in the 
mornins: he attacked Rosser. After a hard fisfht of about two 



1 43 

hours Rosser had received his ' ' drubbing, ' ' losing eleven pieces 
of artillery, several wagons, and three hundred prisoners. 

We started on our march at ten o'clock, and encamped near 
Strasburg, remaining there one day, and then moved to the 
north bank of Cedar Creek, and went into position just off the 
pike on the extreme left of the Nineteenth Corps. Crook 
( Eighth Corps ) went into position on the left of the pike 
joining the left of the Nineteenth Corps, his right advanced 
some hundred and fifty yards beyond our position. The Sixth 
Corps had started for Port Royal, to rejoin the Army of the 
Potomac, while Merritt's cavalry was on the extreme right of 
our line. 

Our cavalry destroyed all the mills and crops in the valley 
as we fell back, and gathered in all the live stock, so that Early 
could not subsist his arm\' in the valley. Early was at Fish- 
er's Hill on the morning of the 13th, just the same, but prob- 
ably brought his rations with him. We occttpied this position 
until the morning of the 19th. In the meantime the Sixth 
Corps had come back and taken position in rear of the Nine- 
teenth Corps. vSheridan had been called to Washington, which 
left Wright in command. 

At break of day on the 19th, three of Early's divisions sur- 
prised Crook's camp and stampeded his whole command. Our 
battery, l)eing on the extreme left of the Nineteenth Corps, 
were the first troops to receive their attention after the Eighth 
Corps had been .swept awa}-. 

We had orders to have our battery hitched up at daylight, 
and we had just completed the task when we heard a volley of 
musketry on our left. We fired four rounds, ju.st to make a 
noise and wake up the camp, not yet realizing just what had 
happened on our left. 

Eieut. Gray hurriedly gave orders to have the tents struck 
and evervthing in readiness to move. In a few minutes we 



144 

saw a line coming over the hill on our left, and making sure 
they were not our troops, we opened on them, but after firing 
for a few minutes, Gen. Emory dashed up and ordered us to 
stop firing, as they were some of our men, and Lieut. Gray 
w^as told to always look out before he conmienced firing. At 
this moment Lieuts. Chase and Bonn came up, and Chase took 
command. 

In the two or three minutes that had elap.sed .since we had 
stopped firing, the line of infantry that we had driven behind 
the brow of the hill, now opened on us, and in a few seconds 
we had orders to " give it to them." We had just opened on 
them as Gen. Wright rode up. He asked Emory " What is the 
matter?" and Emory replied, "Early has surpri.sed us — 
Crook's corps has gone." Wright quickly took in the situa- 
tion, and started off. 

We had warm work before us, the enemy's line of infantry 
on our left having a notion of charging us, but as they came 
over the ridge we had very nearly a complete flank fire on 
them, and our left .section commenced using canister. The 
right of their line was driven back over the ridge, but the left 
was swinging up parallel with the pike, which gave them a 
flank fire on our battery. We were lucky in having three or 
four loads of hay piled up just in rear of the limbers and on a 
line with the caissons on the extreme left of the battery, this 
pile of ha}^ stopping many of the bullets from our left. 

At this time the fourth brigade, .second division. Nine- 
teenth Corps, .swung into position on our left. The .smoke and 
fog was quite thick, and they did not open fire for .some min- 
utes thinking that the line in their front was .some of the Eighth 
Corps falling back. Their mi.stake was discovered, and none 
too soon, for the enemy made a da.sh for our guns, but the line 
on our left had their guns loaded, and poured a volley at them 
which checked their onward ru.sh. 



145 

We were firing ver>- rapidly and doing good execution, as 
we kept the line on our left (or in front of our left section, 
which had swung to the left ) back to the brow of the ridge ; 
but it now became apparent that we must fall back, as the 
right of our support had given way and the troops on the left 
of the battery were only hanging on so as to give us a chance 
to get out ; and to add to our troubles, the line of infantry on 
our left, which we had until now been able to keep back to the 
ridge, was joined by Wharton's rebel division which had moved 
up the pike, and they were pouring in a nasty fire. 

When we received the order, " Liniber to the rear," we 
were not long in executing it, as the rebels were now very 
close to us. All the pieces were taken off but the left piece of 
Lieut. Gray's section — three of the limber horses being down, 
and in a minute every horse on the limber was shot. It was 
impos.sible to take the piece by hand to the rear, and the cais- 
son had started some minutes before. The pike had been in 
the hands of the rebels for the last fifteen minutes, so Lieut. 
Gray told the three or four cannoneers who had been trying 
to get the limber clear, to join the battery. 

Maj. Hart, of Gen. Emory's staff, wanted to save this piece, 
and told Lieut. Gray to fix the prolong and he would have the 
infantry haul it off. It was simpl}' sacrificing men to make 
the attempt under the circumstances. Maj. Hart lost his life, 
also Capt. Wat.son and Lieut. Quay, both of the Eighth Indi- 
ana, and Lieut. Col. Kenny, commanding the Eighth Indiana, 
was .severely wounded, and four others. Lieut. Gray was the 
only one who escaped from the attempt to get the piece awa}-. 

The following is from Vol. XLHL of the Official Records of 
the War ; 



146 

Hdors. Fourth Brig., Second Div., 19TH Army Corps, 
Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864. 

Captain : I have the honor to submit the following report of oper- 
ations of my command in the engagement on the 19th of October, 
instant : 

* * * * the right regiment (Eighth Indiana) supporting 
Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery. In consequence of the dense 
fog, which existed at the time, the enemy advanced on the battery and 
were within a short distance of it before we could di.stinguish whether 
they were friends or foes, the more so, as we supposed them to be a por- 
tion of the Eighth Corps, and notwithstanding we received a very heavy 
fire from that direction, we did not reply to it until they charged directly 
on the battery. Five pieces were withdrawn successfully, and while 
attempting to save the last one Major Hart (of General Grover's staff), 
Capt. William D. Watson, and Lieut. George W. Quay ( both of Eighth 
Indiana) were killed, and Lieut. Col. A. J. Kenny (commanding Eighth 
Indiana ) severely wounded. * * * * * 

I cannot close this report without referring to the bravery of the 
lamented Major Hart (of General Grover's staff), who was killed while 
cheering on the men in their attempt to save the last gun of Battery D, 
First Rhode Island Artillery. In him we have lost a noble, brave, effi- 
cient officer. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

DAVID SHUNK, 

Colonel Eighth Indiana, Commanding. 
Capt. E. A. FiSKE, 

Adg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 

Second Div. , Nineteenth Army Corps. 

Hdqrs. Third Brig., Second Div., 19TH Army Corps, 
Near Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864. 

Sir : In obedience to orders, I have the honor to make the follow- 
ing report of the operations of this brigade in the action of the 19th 
instant : 

* * * * the left of the One Hundred and vSeventy-sixth 
New York reached nearly to and supported Battery D, First Rhode Island 
Artiller}'. 

These dispositions had scarcely been made, and orders given to the 



M7 

men to reserve their fire until the enemy was near enough to make the 
fire effective, when we began to receive a heavy fire of musketr}- from 
the advancing, l)ut still hidden, enemy. The fire came from our front, 
our right, and our left, with a heavy, but random fire of artillery from the 
heights formerly occupied by General Crook's connnand. The enemy's 
lines were not developed until they were within one hundred and fifty 
yards of our lines, and then were but dimly visible through the fog. At 
this time they opened a furious and destructive fire upon us, still advanc- 
ing, which was vigorously and effectively returned, checking to some 
extent their advance. The enemy's lines, as now developed, were nearh- 
at right angles with the main brigade line, and facing the One Hundred 
and Seventy -sixth New York and the three companies of the One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-sixth New York, which had changed front. The left of 
their lines extended very nearly to Cedar Creek, while their right extended 
as far as the e^-e could reach through the fog and smoke. In a very few 
moments they were on us in force, their left swinging to the right, while 
their right poured heavy volleys in our rear. A desperate hand-to-hand 
fight ensued on the left of the brigade line. The enemy had planted their 
colors on our works and were fighting desperately across them, meeting 
with a .stubborn resistance, while they swarmed like bees round the battery 
on our left and rear. * * * * 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ALFRED NEAFIE, 

Lieutenant Colonel, Coi/nnanding Brigade. 
Capt. E. A. FiSKE, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant denerat. 

When the battery retired, we moved to the right and rear 
of otir position, crossed Meadow Brook, passing to the west of 
the Bell Grove house (Sheridan's head-quarters) and joined 
some infantry alDont one thousand yards to the rear, and went 
into position, firing at a line of infantry on the pike, and then 
fell back just beyond Middletown, and again went into position 
behind some light breastworks that had been thrown tip. We 
remained there until three or four in the afternoon, firing occa- 
sionally when we cotild see anything to fire at. 

Gen. Sheridan joined his command at about half-past ten 



148 

in the morning, from Winchester. At this time Getty's divis- 
ion, of the Sixth Corps, was holding a position about one mile 
north of Middletown, his left near the pike. Col. lyowell's 
cavalry extended from Gett\''s left to near Middletown. The 
other two divisions of the Sixth Corps, the Nineteenth, and 
part of the Eighth Corps, were just south of Newtown. 

Our army had lost twenty- four pieces of artillery, a large 
amount of camp equipage, ambulances, wagons, and thirteen 
hundred prisoners. 

Sheridan's arrival gave our men confidence. He had the 
two divisions of the Sixth Corps, also the Nineteenth, and 
part of the Eighth Corps put in line on the right of Gett3''s 
division. The enemy tried to break this line, but Emory hand- 
somely repulsed the charge. 

At about a quarter of four o'clock Sheridan advanced his 
whole line, which was met by a stubborn resistance ; but .soon 
the enemy was obliged to give wa}-, and in a short time it was 
a complete rout. 

Our infantry followed the eneni}' until their old camps were 
reached at Cedar Creek, and then the cavalry took up the 
chase. All of our guns were recaptured, and twenty-- four of 
Early's (just the number we lost in the morning), besides 
about all of the ambulances and wagons that were lost in the 
morning were in our hands that night, with a large majority 
of Earl^^'s. 

Our battery followed the infantry- when the advance was 
made, and on arrival at Cedar Creek, went into our posi- 
tion of the morning. We had lost one gun and one limber 
and all of our camp equipage ( our teams, having taken the 
pike when they fell back, were captured); notwithstanding, 
we felt happ3' at the way things had turned out. We also expe- 
rienced just a little regret that we had no blankets, tents, or 
anvthing else in fact, but what we had on. 



149 

Not a man of the battery had had a morsel to eat since the 
night before, and no show for rations getting to the front 
that night. We could get along withotit tents or blankets, but 
the day's excitement had given us a good appetite. We built 
up two large camp fires and sat around discu.ssing the events 
of the day. 

About nine o'clock Lieut. Gray (who had left the battery 
-shorth' after we arrived in otir old po.sition) rode into camp 
escorting a four-mule team which he had captured. The 
contents of the wagon were soon spread out, disclosing three 
boxes of "hard-tack" as a part of the capture. This was 
i.s.sued at once, and we had a good supper. 

The following is Lieut. Gray's report of his two hours' 
ab.sence : "When we arrived in our old position ju.st at du.sk, 
there was a rebel battery on the hill beyond the bridge, and 
quite a piece to the right. A few .shells came over our camp, 
and I knew they were from a three-inch rifie ; having lost one 
of that kind in the morning, I thought I would ride over and 
.see if I could find it. 

I rode down toward our right, crossed a small stream in the 
woods, and came out near a small plateau where .some two 
or three hundred rebel infantrymen were trying to hold our 
cavalry from coming up the hill. I swung back and joined 
the head of our cavalry line, which proved to be the Fir.st 
Vermont, Col. Bennett. He was waiting for his men to clo.se 
up. 

I cro.s.sed the stone wall and rode a few yards to the left, 
when Gen. Custer, with the Fifth New York came up, and 
both regiments charged. I was carried along with the crowd, 
but before we had gone fifty 3'ards the rebel infantr}' broke. 
I made friends with a .sergeant, and suggested that we shove 
ahead and get the guns of the battery that had been firing but 
a minute or two before. 



He fell into the scheme, and we gathered about a dozen of 
his command and struck out for the battery, but they had 
limbered up, and were quite a piece from where w^e expected 
to find them. We were riding at a sharp trot, passing through 
quite a number of rebel infantry, who paid not the least atten- 
tion to us. I soon made out the battery, which w^as bearing 
off to the right. 

I rode to the head of the battery and ordered them to halt. 
The officer in command told me that he had orders to go to the 
rear as quick as possible. I explained to him wdio I was, and 
ordered him to countermarch. As soon as the battery was 
halted three or four of the mounted men rode up to see what 
the matter was, and heard the conversation. I heard the click 
of two or three revolvers, and wished I was at home, as my 
friend the sergeant and his men had stopped to take some of 
the rebel infantry into camp, leaving me entirely alone. 

I rode directly in front of the commanding officer of the 
battery, holding my Colt's navy revolver very close to him, 
and told him it was no use making a fuss, as our cavalry was 
some distance in our front, and it was impossible for him to 
get away. 

He finally gave the order to countermarch, and we were 
nearing the pike when some of our cavalry came up, and they 
demanded our surrender. I explained to them how things 
stood, and that they could have all the pieces but one, but I 
wanted one at least. The officer in command allowed I had 
no business out there anyway, and he would take charge of 
the guns. We had quite an argument, but I had to let him 
have his own way. 

I now came to the conclusion that I didn't want any guns, 
so I rode up the pike, where I soon got into their infantry, 
which was scattered over the lots on each side of the pike. 
On the pike were three lines of vehicles going at a slow trot, 



the lines being composed of pieces of artillery-, wagons, ambu- 
lances, and caissons, all mixed in together. 

I rode alongside the pike until I came to a place where there 
was a down grade, and I then took a whip from one of the 
drivers and his " jerk-line " and swinging his lead mules over 
against the next team to him, I put the whip to them, and 
it was fun to see those mules try to climb over that team. In 
a few seconds there was a mix-up, mules, horses, wagons and 
drivers, being piled up, completely blocking the road. 

I went back down the pike asking different drivers what they 
had in their wagons. I soon struck one that .said he had three 
boxes of Yankee hard-tack, a wall tent, blankets, and the 
me.ss-kit of the surgeon of the Fourth Georgia. I a.sked him 
to pull out out into the lot, but he allowed that he would lo.se 
his place in line if he did ; but as the line was halted, I per- 
suaded him to do as I suggested, telling him I would answer 
all questions if anyone a.sked them. 

I remained there .some fifteen or twenty minutes, meanwhile 
there were hundreds of men going along, but no organization 
to them. One small squad of four or five came by and they 
had two flags. I started to capture the flags, but .saw a squad 
of mounted men coming, and waited for them to pa.ss. One 
of them a.sked what I had the team there for, and I told him 
that the captain was wounded, and I was waiting to put him 
in the wagon, as I could not find an ambulance. He advised 
me to hurry up, as the Yankees were right near. 

I followed up the flags for a minute or two, but finally weak- 
ened, and gave it up. When our cavalry came up I was again 
ordered to surrender, and I had quite a ta.sk to keep my wagon, 
but I soon led it down the pike, and at about nine o'clock I 
arrived at our camp. The driver of the team I had, as .soon 
as he found I wasn't going to harm him, told me he was glad 
to get awav from the rebel .service." 



152 

Major DeForrest, aid on Gen. Emory's staff, in his letter 
published in Harper' s Monthly Magazine, of February, 1865, 
gives the following : 

" Lieut. Gray, Company D, First Rhode Island Artillery, galloped up 
to a retreating battery and ordered it to face about. " I was told to go to 
the rear as rapidly as possible," remonstrated the sergeant in command. 
" You don't seem to know who I am," answered Gray. " I am one of 

those d d Yanks. Countermarch immediately !" The battery was 

countermarched, and Gray was leading it off alone, when a squadron of 
our cavalry came up and made the captiire a certainty." 

As soon as we had eaten our hard- tack, we made ourselves 
as comfortable as possible, and tried to get some sleep ; but 
the night was chilly, and most of the men were up at daylight. 
We rather envied our officers, who had wall-tents and plenty 
of blankets (part of the contents of the captured wagon). 

About nine o'clock in the morning we drew rations, and soon 
had hot coffee, which put us all right again ; but it was nearly 
noon before we could obtain grain for our horses, by which 
time they were very hungry, having had nothing to eat for 
about forty-two hours. 

Capt. Buckley arrived in camp at about five o'clock in the 
afternoon on the i8th, from his visit to Providence with the 
men that were mustered out. He did not take part in the 
proceedings of the battery on the 19th, and was mustered out 
Oct. 23d. 

Nov. 7tli Elmer E- Corthell, who had established an excel- 
lent military reputation by long service on various fields, joined 
the battery and took command, having been promoted from 
First Eieutenant of Battery G, to Captain of Battery D. We 
found him a very efficient and conscientious officer. 

We remained in camp in our old position at Cedar Creek 
until Nov. 9th, when we moved to near Newtown, and went 
into winter quarters. 



153 

On the 9th Early, hearing that Sheridan had fallen back, 
immediately advanced, and on the iith crossed Cedar Creek. 
On the morning of the 12th vSheridan sent his cavalry out on 
both flanks and they had quite a sharp brush with Karly's 
cavalry, and with the usual result. Dudley's brigade of the 
Nineteenth Corps, and a .small force from the Sixth Corps, 
were advanced up the pike to a.ssist the cavalry. Early soon 
found that Gen. Sheridan was still in the valley, and promptly 
retreated to his old camp at New Market. This was Early's 
last advance in the Shenandoah Valley. 

We built .shelter for our hor.ses, and quite good quarters for 
the men ; but we had not more than completed our quarters 
before we had orders to move nearer our ba.se of supplies, so 
on Dec. i2tli we broke camp and marched through Winchester 
to within a short distance of Stephenson Station. 

This march was very hard on both men and horses, as it 
commenced to snow .soon after we started, and when we arri^'ed 
at camp there was about six inches of snow. It cleared up 
at night, and came out cold, the ground freezing up, making 
it quite a job to pitch our tents. There was very little .sleep 
that night. 

The next day we had time to log up our tents, and at once 
began to build shelters for our horses. We soon had a very 
comfortable camp, where we remained until the loth of March, 
1865, with no hard duty to perform. 

By the middle of December Gen. Sheridan had .sent all of 
the Sixth Corps to the Army of the Potomac, then in front of 
Petersburg. One division of the Eighth Corps was sent to 
City Point, and the other to West Virginia, the cavalry and 
the Nineteenth Corps remaining in the valley. The cavalry 
made a raid through Luray Valley and destroyed all the forage 
and wheat ; they also drove off about three thou.sand sheep, 
one thousand hogs, and hundreds of cattle and hor.ses. 



154 

On the 19th of December Torbert started up the valley with 
eight thousand cavalry, to strike the Virginia Central Railroad 
and destroy the James River Canal. This enterprise was not 
a success, and on the 27th he returned to Winchester, many 
of his men frost-bitten by the excessive cold. 

This ended all movements until February 27th, wdien Gen. 
Sheridan started with ten thousand cavalrymen and two .sec- 
tions of artillery on his successful trip up the valley, through 
to Grant's army before Petersburg. At Waynesboro he cap- 
tured all of Early's command, and the valley was clear of any 
large force of the enemy. 

On the loth of March we broke camp and moved near Win- 
chester, remaining in this camp a .short time, and then moved 
to the east of Winchester about a mile and went into camp. 
Our duties there were light. We fired a .salute of one himdred 
guns on Ivce's surrender. Knowing that the w^ar was about 
over, we had very short drills, both mounted and the manual. 

On the 4th of July we received orders to turn in our battery 
and other government property, and proceed to Rhode Island. 
It is needless to say that this order was received by the men 
with every conceivable manifestation of joy ; some hugged 
each other, while others .shouted and threw their hats in the 
air, and when "water call" was blown it took fifteen minutes 
to form the line, but after that things quieted down, and on 
the morning of the loth we started for home, under command 
of Capt. Corthell, taking the cars as far as New York, and 
then the steamer John Brooks, which landed us at Fox Point 
wharf on the morning of July 13th. 

The oihcers accompanying Capt. Corthell and belonging to 
the battery were Fir.st lyieuts. Frederick Cha.se and Charles F. 
Bonn, and Second lyieut. Charles C. Gray. The men num- 
bered ninetj-five, and presented a remarkably fine appearance, 
having nearly new uniforms. 



155 

We were received by the Mechanic Rifles and a detachment 
of the Marine Artillery, and escorted to Washinjj^ton Hall, 
where we found a l)onntiful collation prepared for us by L. H. 
Huniphre>s. The collation was soon over, and the men dis- 
missed with orders to report at the Revenue Office, on South 
Main Street, on the 17th for final pay and muster out. 

On the 17th of July, 1865, the ])attery was mustered out by 
Capt. Joseph S. York, of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, 
and Battery D, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, was no 
more ; but we all felt that the battery had made a record that 
was honorable alike to itself and the State. 



ROSTER. 



Aldrich, Halsey a., Corp., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. (Jriginally served as private; Sept. 3, 1S64, mustered 
out at Charlestown, Vn. 

Andrkws, Roi;eki' II., ist Sergt.; Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; Nov. 12, 1S61, 
promoted Sergt.; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action and borne as absent sick 
in hospital until April, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as Vet. Vol. Borne 
on furlough of fifteen days from April 29, 1865; June 25, 1865, promoted 
1st Sergt.; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

Arnold, Georck E., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Aug. 29, 1S62, captured at Bull Run, Va.; Sept. i, 1862, 
released at Bull Run, Va., and reported at Camp Parole, Md. Borne as 
absent on detached service at Kno.wille, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until 
Jan., 1864; Sept. 3, 1S64, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 

Arnolu, Olnev, Priv., Lonsdale, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital, from May 21, 1863, until 
Oct. 8, 1863, when transferred to 74th Co. 2d Bat. \'. R. C; Sept. 4, 1864, 
mustered out as of 74th Co. 2d Bat. \'. R. C. 

Austin, Allen, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; April, 1864, absent sick in hospital, and so borne until Sept., 
1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 

Ballou, .Stephen, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 4, 
1 861, mustered in ; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 



TS8 

Bari'.kr, Robert F., Priv. Oct. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Oct. 
22, 1864, mustered in ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Bates, Daniel J., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital, from Feb. 7, 1863, until May, 1863. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital, from Aug. 12, 1863, until Oct 15, 1S63, when trans- 
ferred to S3d Co. 2d Bat. V. R. C; May 15, 1865, mustered out as of 83d 
Co. 2d Bat. \'. R. C. 

Bennett, George, Priv. Dec. 4, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. I ; Dec. 4, 

1862, mustered in. Probably recruited for Piattery H. Re-enlisted as a 
Vet. Vol.; Jan., 1864, granted furlough of forty-five days; March 7, 1864, 
deserted at Providence, R. I. 

Bennett, William R., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. Relieved from duty as Corporal, by request ; Sept. 

17, 1862, missing in action; Dec. 22, 1862, joined from missing in action; 

Aug. 10, 1863, deserted at Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Bezely, John F., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 

1863, until Jan., 1864. Borne as absent sick in hospital, from Feb. 23, 1864, 
until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Biolan, John, Priv., Woonsocket, R. 1. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled ; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. Mustered in 
as Biglow. 

Billen, Michael, Priv. Oct. 26, 1S64, enrolled at Providence, R. 1.; Oct. 26, 

1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Bizburger, John, Artificer. Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 23, 1861, transferred to Battery G. 
BlU-SH, Curtis A., Priv. July 9, 1863, enrolled at Camp Nelson, Ky.; July 17, 

1865, mustered out. 

Bonn, Charles E., ist Lieut. April 26, 1864, commissioned. Mustered in to 
date from May 4, 1864. Promoted from ist Sergt. Battery H, to 2d Lieut. 
Battery D. Borne on leave of absence from Oct. 24, 1864, until Nov., 1864; 
Nov. 24, 1864, ordered on detached service as A. A. A. G. at Hdfjrs. Art. 
Brig. 19th Army Corps, and so borne until July, 1865 ; April 3, 1865, com- 
missioned 1st Lieut., and mustered in as such April 11, 1865 ; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. Brevet Captain, for bravery and good conduct in the field, 
to date from March 13, 1865. 

BoTTER, Erich P., Priv., North Kingstown, R. 1. Oct. 20, 1862, enrolled; Oct. 
20, 1862, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 



159 

BuUKN, Samuel D., Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; March 
12, 1865, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Stephenson's Station, \'a. 

UdWKRs, Wii.i.iAM R., Artificer, Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1S61, mustered in; Dec. 23, 1861, transferred to Battery G. 

BdVi.K, Jiiiix, Priv. Dec. 7, 1S64, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Dec. 7, 1S64, 
mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Hkahy, Ale.Xandf.k, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 25, 1864, enrolled; April 
20, 1864, mustered in. Borne on furlough for fifteen days from May 23, 
1865 ; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

Brand, William C, Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital; April 10, 1862, dis- 
charged on Surgeon's certificate, at camp near Bristoe, Va. 

pRdii, JiiiiN, Artificer, North Kingstown, R.I. Oct. 20, 1862, enrolled ; Uci. 
20, 1S62, mustered in; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

Brown, Herbert M., Priv., North Providence, R. 1. Aug. 8, 1862, enrolled; 
Aug. 8, 1862, mustered in ; June 23, 1S65, mustered out. 

Brown, William W., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Aug. 14, 1S62, enrolled; Aug. 
14, 1862, mustered in; June 23, 1S65, mustered out. 

But'KLEY, Andrew, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 14, 1864, enrolled ; April 
20, 1864, mustered in; Oct. 19, 1864, missing in action near Cedar Creek, 
Xa. Gained and borne as absent sick in hospital, from Nov. 24, 1864, until 
Feb., 1865 ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Buckley, William W., Capt. Oct. 30, 1862, commissioned. Mustered in to 
date Nov. i, 1S62. Promoted from 1st Lieut. Battery C. Borne on leave 
of absence sick, from Jan. 18, 1863, until Feb. 28, 1863. Absent with leave 
from May 10, 1863, until June 8, 1863; March, 1864, absent with leave; 
Sept. 3, 1864, granted leave of absence; Oct. 23, 1864, mustered out; Bre- 
vet Major for faithful and meritorious services during the war, to date from 
March 13, 1865. 

BuDLONG, Moses, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan, 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. \'ol.; July 17, 1865, 

mustered out. 
BURDICK, John C, Priv. Nov. i, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. i, 

1864, mustered in ; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 
BURKH.-VRDT, Charles J., Priv. Dec. 19, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 

Dec. 19, 1864, mustered in ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 



i6o 

Burns, Christoi'HKK, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 14, 1S64, enrolled ; April 
20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Burt, Everett B., Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, severely wounded at the battle of An- 
tietam, and sent to hospital; borne as absent sick until June 27, 1863, when 
dropped from rolls. No further record. 

Busby, John J., Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled ; Sept. 4,1861, 
mustered in ; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. \"ol.; July 17, 1865, mus- 
tered out. 

Caesar, Daniel, Priv., Smithfield, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled ; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in ; March 19, 1863, admitted to Chesapeake General Hospital, 
Fort Monroe, Va.; March 26, 1863, died of disease. 

Caesar, Royal W., Priv., Smithfield, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, injured Ijy cannon shot at Antietam, sent 
to hospital and borne as absent sick until Dec, 1862; Sept. 6, 1864, mus- 
tered out at Providence, R. I. 

Cahoo.ne, Andrew J., Corp., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Borne as absent on 
furlough for twenty days from June 14, 1863; borne on detached service at 
Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; borne as absent sick 
in hospital, from Jan. 24, 1864, until Feb., 1864; Sept. 3, 1S64, mustered 
out at Charlestown, \'a. 

Carrier, Andrew, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Feb. 
10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. 

Card, Samuel A., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital, from March 24, 1S63, 
until March 7, 1864, when he deserted from hospital. 

Carpenter, Christopher H., Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Carrigan, Thomas, Priv., Warwick, R. I. April 15, 1864, enrolled; Dec. 16, 
1864, deserted near Opequon Creek, \'a.. 

Carroll, Edward, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at Antietam. 

Carroll, James, Priv., Warwick, R. I. P'eb. 21, 1862, enrolled; Sept., 1862, 
in General Hospital, and borne as absent sick until Nov. 21, 1862, when 
discharged on Surgeon's certificate at Mount Pleasant General Hospital, 
Washington, D. C. 



i6i 

Gary, Owen A., Priv., Providence, R. I. Oct. 28, 1S64, enrolled; Oct. 28, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Chase, F"redekI(K, ist Lieut. Dec 4, 1S62, commissioned. Promoted from 
Sergt. Battery F, to 2d Lieut. Battery D. Borne on leave of absence for 
thirty days from Dec. 17, 1863; March, 1S64, absent with leave; April 8, 

1864, commissioned 1st Lieut., and mustered in as such to date April 8, 
1864; Sept. 1864, commanding Battery, and so borne until Nov., 1864; 
borne on leave of absence from Nov. 20, 1864, until Dec, 1864; Jan., 1865, 
commanding Battery ; June 12, 1865, commissioned Captain (never mus- 
tered) ; July 17. 1865, mustered out. 

Collins, Alexanhek, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. L; Feb. 

10, 1863. deserted at Belle Plain Landing. 
Cokey, .\rGi'srrs, Priv., Warwick, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled ; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in; March 10, 1862, left in hospital at Upton"s Hill, Va., having 

been run over by a caisson while in line of duty ■ April 24, 1862, discharged 

on Surgeon's certificate. 
Cokey, Joseph W., Priv., Providence, R. L Sept. 4, i8()i, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. Vol.; July 17, 1865, 

mustered out. 
CoKNELL, Chakli;s W., Priv., Coventry, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1 861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 19, 1863, 

until Aug. I, 1863, when transferred to 30th Co., 2d Bat. \'. R. C; Nov. 28, 

1865, mustered out as of 4th Co , 2d Bat. V. R. C, to which transferred. 
Cornell, Daniel B., (h M. Sergt., Coventry, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 

Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; func 13, 1862, 
promoted Sergt. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from L)ec. 
8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. \ ol.; April 13, 
1865, promoted (). M. Sergt.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Cornell, Patrick, Priv., Smithfield, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
i85i, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 20, 1863, 
until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

CoKTHELL, Elmek L., Capt. Oct. 21, 1864, commissioned; Nov. 2, 1864, mus- 
tered in. Promoted from ist Lieut. Battery G. Borne on leave of absence 
for fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865 ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

CoYi.E, Olney. Priv., Providence, R. L Nov. 19, 1864, enrolled ; Nov. 19, 1864, 
mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Ckaweokd, \\illi.\m, Priv., Pawtucket, R. L Sept. 4, 1801, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in ; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 



l62 

Cross, Benjamin, Corp. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from private Battery H ; 
Jan. 5, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Jan., 1864, granted furlough of forty- 
five days; Oct. 19, 1864, captured at Cedar Creek, Va.; April i, 1865, es- 
caped from Salisbury, N. C; May 2, 1865, reported at Camp Chase, Ohio; 
June 27, 1865, mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio. 

Cross, Henry C, Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital from June 15, 1863, until Oct. 8, 1863, when trans- 
ferred to 74lh Co., 2d Bat. V. R. C; Sept. 5, 1864, mustered out of the V. 
R. C. to accept commission as Capt. Ii5tli U. S. C. Inf ; Feb. 10, 1866, 
mustered out as Capt. Co. D, 115th U. S. C. T. 

CuLLEN, Patrick, Priv., Pavvtucket, R. I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Sept. 4, 1864, 
until Dec, 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

CURICAN, Thomas, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 21, 1864, enrolled ; April 20, 
1864, mustered in. Borne on furlough for fifteen days from April 29, 1865 ; 
July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

CuRRiE, William, Priv., Westerly, R. I. Feb. 24, 1802, enrolled. Borne as 
absent sick from Dec. 30, 1862, until Feb. 9, 1863, when discharged on 
Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R. I. 

Daniels, William, Priv. Dec. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Dec. 
22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Darcy, Thomas, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 16, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Dearnley, James, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R I.; Nov. 30, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Deming, Richard H., ist Sergt., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 4, 1861, discharged for disability, at Camp 
Dupont, \'a. 

DeSilvey, John W., Priv. July 30, 1S63, enrolled; July 30, 1863, mustered in; 

July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Dixon, John, Priv., Apponaug, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at Falmouth, Va. 

Dodc;e, Reuben D., Priv., Block Island, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1S62, wounded at the battle of Antietnm, 
sent to hospital and borne as absent sick until Dec, 1S62; April 14, 1S63, 
discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Armory Square Hospital, Washing- 
ton, D. C. 



163 

Doi.AN, yosKPii, I'riv. Dec. 12, 1S62, enrolled at Providence, R. I. No further 

record. 
DoNNELi.V, Jamks, Corp., Warwick, K. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in. Oritjinally served as private. Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a 

\'et. \ol. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from May 23, 1865; July 17, 

1865, mustered out. 
DoRAN, HucH, I'riv., Apponaug, K. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 

mustered in; Aug. 30, 1S62, killed in action at Bull Run. 

DoYi.E, I'.M'KK.K, Priv. Dec. 12, 1S62, enrolled at Providence, R. I. No fur- 
ther record. 

Buddy, Th<imas C. , Priv., Westerly, R I. Aug. 7, 1862, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, deserted at Providence, R. I. 

Edwards, Edwin, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept 4, 1861, 
mustered in; July, 1862, absent sick, and so borne until Oct., 1862; Dec. 13, 
1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R. I. 

Ec;ax, John, Priv. Dec. i, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Dec. i, 1864, 

mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Ei.DRED, (Jeorck a., Corp., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, killed in action at Bull Run. 

Ei.i.iDTT, DANHcr. W., Priv., Smithfield, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1S64, re-enlisted as a \"et. Vol. Borne on fur- 
lough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Ellis, Leonard G., Priv. Transferred from Battery A; Nov. 16, 1863, wounded 
at battle of Campbell's Station, 'I'enn.; June 23, 1S65, mustered out. 

PASSER, Phild', Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; Dec. 3, 1861, admitted to General Hospital, Baltimore, Md.; 
Jan. 14, 1864, discharged at Providence, R. I., to date Jan. 20, 1862. 

Fairbrother, James H., Corp., Warwick, R. I. Sept 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. ( )riginnlly served as private; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered 

out at Charlestown, Va. 
FiNLEY, RooEK, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in; Oct., 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne until Dec, 1862; 

Oct. 12, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate at Lovell General Hospital, 

Portsmouth Grove, R. I. 
FiSK, SiKi'iiEN W., 2d Lieut., Providence, R. L Sept. 7, 1861, commissioned; 

Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 4. 1862, promoted 1st Lieut. Battery C. 



164 

FiSK, William H., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 
French, Joseph B., Priv., Providence, R. I. July 18, 1862, enrolled; July 18, 

1862, mustered in; June 23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, \'a. 
French, Joseph S., Priv., Providence, R. I. July 21, 1862, enrolled; July 21, 

1862, mustered in; Oct. 24, 1862, died of disease at hospital, Smoketown, 

Md. 
Galindo, Peter, Priv. Jan. 2, 1S63, enrolled at Providence, R. I ; Feb. 10, 

1S63, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. 
GALL.A.GHER, Charles, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 15, 1863, 

until Aug., 1863; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Galloughly, John, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at Antietam. 

Gilmore, Solomon, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. \'ol.; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

Gladding, Henry R., ist Lieut., Providence, R. I. Sept 7, 1861, commis- 
sioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Nov. 30, 1S62, mustered out. at Brooks 
Station, \'a.; Aug. i, 1863, commissioned 1st Lieut. Plfih Rhode Island 
Heavy Artillery. Never mustered in nor served under commission. 

Glassey, John, Priv., Lonsdale, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; May, 1862, received injury, sent to hospital, and borne as absent 
sick until Oct. 7, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Provi- 
dence, R. L 

GOFF, Bernard, Priv., Pawtucket, R. L March 12, 1864, enrolled: April 20, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Good\VIN, Terrence, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 14, 1864. enrolled; .A.pril 
20, 1864, mustered in; Sept. 19, 1864, wounded at battle of Winchester, Va., 
sent to hospital, and borne as absent sick until May 20, 1865, when dis- 
charged on Surgeon's certificate, at U. S. General Hos])ital, York, Pa. 

Gordon. James, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 18, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Gorton, Erastus, Priv., Coventry, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne on extra duty as teamster from March i, 1863, until 
May, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mus- 
tered out. 



1 65 

CoKTON, John S., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; Jan. 30, 1S64, re-enlisted as a \'et. \'ol. Borne as absent sick 
in hospital from Aug. i, iS()4, until I let., 1S64; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

CiK AV, CiiAKLis C, 2d Lieut. , I'rovidence, R. I. Sept. 4, kS6i, enrolled; Sept. 
4, iSoi, mustered in. Originally served as Corporal. Promoted Sergeant; 
Jan. 30, 1S64, re-enlisted as a \'et. \'o\.; May 26, 1864, commissioned 2d 
Lieut.; May 26, 1864, discharged as Sergeant to accept promotion. Mus- 
tered in as 2d Lieut, to date May 27, 1864. Borne on detached service as 
Acting Ordnance Officer 19th Army Corps from Aug. 9, 1864, until Sept., 
1864; June 12, 1865, commissioned 1st Lieut., never mustered; July 17, 
1865, mustered out. 

(iREEX, John T., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; March 6, 1863, died of disease at Newport News, \ a. 

(iKF.v, John, Priv., Smithfield, R. L Aug. 2, 1862, enrolled; May 18, 1863, 
discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R. L 

Grinnei.l, Rokert A., Priv., Warwick, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from 
Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. Vol.; 
July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

H.\NDY, ()Tis (;.. Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

H.vKKNEiss, Georce C, 1st Lieut., Providence, R. L Sept. 7, 1861, commis- 
sioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Jan., 1862, on leave of absence; Aug. 
30, 1862, wounded in action at Bull Run, and borne as absent sick until 
Nov., 1862; Nov., 1862, commanding ISattery; March 3, 1863, discharged 
on lender of resignation. 

Hathaw.w, Cii.\kle.s B., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; April 24, 1863, deserted at Parkersburg, Va. 

Havens, William, Priv., Warwick, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Jan. 21, 1864, until 
Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, discharged at Charlestown, \'a. 

Hawkins, Georce N., Priv., Coventry, R. I Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Net. \'ol.; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

HawkiN-s, Rkiiari) S., Priv., Coventry. R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Dec, 1861, absent sick in hosj)ital, and so borne until Feb. 
II, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Georgetown, D. C. 



1 66 

Hayward, James S., Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 13, 1862, 
until Oct., 1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Hicks, Otis F., Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, killed in action at Bull Run. 

Hollihan, Thomas, Priv., Warwick. R. I. Sept. 4, iSbi, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 24, 1863, 
until April 26, 1864; Sept. 3, 1S64, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Hood, William H., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 26, 1861, deserted at Camp Sprague, Washington, 
D. C. 

Hopkins, Daniel, Priv., Foster, R. I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 28, 1862, 
missing in action, taken prisoner; date of parole not shown; Nov. 10, 1862, 
died of disease at Military Hospital, Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md. 

Hopkins, Henry H., Priv., South Scituate, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as teamster from April i, 1862, until Jan., 

1863. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Jan. 25, 1863, until Sept. 3, 

1864, when mustered out. 

Hopkins, Henry W., Bugler, Foster, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted 
as a Vet. Vol. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 27, 1864, until 
Oct., 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Hopkins, Jeremiah D., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, absent sick; Dec. 27, 1861, returned to duty; 
Sept. 17, 1862, wounded in action at Antietam, and borne as absent sick 
until Dec. 29, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Frederick, 
Md. 

Hopkins, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 12, 1S62, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at 
Camp Dupont, Va. 

Hopkins, John W., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, wounded at the battle of Antietam, and borne 
as absent sick in liospital until Dec, 1S62; April 2, 1863, discharged on 
Surgeon's certificate. 

Hopkins, Thomas W., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; April 2, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at 
Antietam Hospital, by reason of gun shot wound. 



167 

IIowAKi), Makiin 1,., I'riv., North Scituate, R. I. Jan. 2, 1865. enrolletl; Jan. 

2, 1865, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
IIoxsiE, Joseph \V., Priv , West Greenwich, K. I. March 14, 1864, enrolled. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 6, 1864, until August 13, 1S64, 

when discharged for disability, at Judiciary Square Hospital, Washington, 

D. C. 
tluNTEK, .Samuel, Friv., Pawtucket, R. I. Nov. 17, 1864, enrolled; Nov. 17, 

1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Jackson, Charles O., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, K. I.; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Ildqrs. Chief of Arty., 

Dept. of the Ohio, from March 7, 1864, until Sept., 1864; Sept. 14, 1864, 

discharged at Providence, R. I , to date Sept. 3, 1864. 
Jexcks, Hezekl\h, Artificer. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in; Jan., 1862, transferred to Battery B. 
Jenkins, Samuel, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in; April, 1864, sick in hospital, and so borne until .Sept., 1864; 

.Sept. 3, 1864, discharged at Charlestown, Va. 

Jekrold, Fkedekick L. , Priv. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 

Aug., 1862, mustered in. Reported as having been transferred from Battery 

B; June 23 1865, mustered out at Winchester, Va. Also borne as Jer- 

raulds. 
Johnson, Hugh, Priv., Providence, R. I. Nov. 25, 1864, enrolled; Nov. 25, 

1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Johnson, Wh.lett A., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Sept. 2, 1862, until Dec. 29, 

1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Philadelpliia. 

Jones, Thomas Lloyd, Friv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 
Nov. 30, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Keables, Thom.^s a., Priv., Westerly, R. I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; June 4, 

1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate. 
Keach, Jesse D., Priv., Smithfield, R. I. Oct. 27, 1864, enrolled; ( »ct. 27, 1864, 

mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Kehoe, James, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1S64 mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Kelly, Patrick, Priv. July 27, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; July 27. 
1864, mustered in. Transferred to Battery B. 



1 68 

Kennison, Charles H., Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from March 24, 1863, until Aug. 

3, 1863, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at United States General 
Hospital, Baltimore, Md. 

Kenyon, JasEPH B., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne on duty as teamster from March I, 1S63, until 
May, 1863; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. Mustered in 
as John B. Kenyon. 

KiLBURN, Bernard, Priv., North Providence, R. I. Aug. 6, 1862, enrolled; 
Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action at Antietam. No further record. 

KiMHALL, Charles H., Sergt., North Scituate, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp. Borne as absent 
sick in hospital from Oct. 20, 1863, until Dec, 1863; Dec. 13, 1863, died of 
disease in General Hospital, at Knoxville, Tenn. 

Knight, Edwin R., Corp., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Aug., 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne until Dec, 
1862; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Knowles, John B., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, i86i, 
mustered in; Oct. 12, 1861, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Camp 
Sprague, Washington, D. C. 

Landry, Joseph, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 5, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Lee, Royal Henry, ist Sergt., Pawtucket, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Sergt.; Nov. 12, 1861, promoted 
1st Sergt.; Dec. 25, 1862, discharged to accept promotion as 2d Lieut., 
Battery C. 

Lewis, Clark, Priv., Richmond, R. L Jan. 2, 1865, enrolled; Jan. 2, 1865, 

mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Linn, Peter, Corp., Pawtucket, R. L March 12, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 1864, 

mustered in. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; March 

25, 1865, promoted Corp.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Locke, James W., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. L; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from 

Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; 

July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
LoPKK, Peter, Priv. Transferred from Battery H; April 24. 1863, deserted at 

Baltimore, Md. Also borne as Lopez. 



i6q 

LorKz, jManukl, Priv. Jan. 2, 1863, enrolled at Providence, R. I. Feb. 10, 

1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing, Va. 

Lynch, Damkl, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 16, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 

1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Lyon, Lewis, Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H; Sept. 14, 1863, 
deserted at Loudon, Tenn. 

Matthkws, AiiiKRT N., Corp. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled at Providence, R. L; 
.Sept. 4, 1S61, mustered in. C)riginally served as private. Borne as absent 
sick in hospital from March 21, 1863, until Dec, 1S63; Jan. 30, 1864, re-en- 
listed as a \'et. \'ol.; Sept , 1S64, absent sick in hospital; Nov. 30, 1864, 
detached for service at Hdqrs. Any. Brig., 19th Army Corps; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

Mattiso.\, Anson, Sergt., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, i86i, 
mustered in. Originally served as private. Promoted Corp.; Jan. 30, 1864, 
re-enlisted as a \'er. \'ol ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Mattison, Edmund IL, Priv., Warwick, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. Vol.; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

May, Charles E., Bugler. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Nov. 16, 1862, until June, 
1863; June, 1864, in hospital, and so borne until Sept., 1864; Sept. 20, 1864, 
mustered out at Providence, R. L 

McC.YNN, John, Priv. July 22, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. L; July 22, 

1862, mustered in. Probably recruited for Battery E; June 23, 1865, dis- 
charged at Winchester, \'a. 

McCausland, Alexander, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; 
Aug. 13, 1862, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., 
from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1S64; Nov. 30, 1864, detached for service at 
Hdqrs. Arty. Brig., 19th Army Corps; June 23, 1865, discharged at Win- 
chester, \'a. 

McCausland, Norman L., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. 1 ; 
Sept. 4, 1 861, mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital; April 10, 
1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at camp near Bristoe, Ya. 

McCoKMicK, James P., Jr., Priv., Pawtucket, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1 86 1, mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at camp near Falmouth 
Station, \a. 

McGlNNiTY, John, Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 



I 70 

McGovERN, John, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at Antietam. 

McKearnan, Edward, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1S64, re-enlisted as a Vet. Yo].; July 17, 1865, 
mustered out. 

McKenna, James F., Priv., Pawtucket, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 29, 1863, 
until Aug., 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne as absent 
sick in hospital from Aug. 24, 1864, until Feb., 1865. Borne as absent sick in 
hospital from April 6, 1865, until June 7, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

McKenna, John, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 13, 1862, 
mustered in; Dec. 8, 1863, detached for service at Knoxville, Tenn.; June 
23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, Va. 

McKenna, John, ist, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

McLaughlin, John, Priv. Nov. 25. 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 
25, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

McMannus, James, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at I'rovidence, R. I.; Nov. 
30, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

McQuade, Patrick, Priv. Oct. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I,; Oct. 

22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

Means, Joseph F., Priv., North Providence, R. 1.; Nov. 23, 1864, enrolled; Nov. 

23, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Mendosa, Raphael, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Dec. 

12, 1862, mustered in. Originally assigned to Battery 11; Feb. i, 1863, 

deserted at Falmouth, Va. 
Mills, William T., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861 enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne as sick 

in hospital from May 15, 1865, until June, 1865. Borne on furlough of 

twenty days from June 10, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Milne, William O., Sergt. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. Promoted Corp. Absent on furlough for fifteen dnys 

from July 24, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, 

mustered out. 
Moore, Frederick, Priv., Westerly, R. I. Feb. 20, i8f)2, enrolled; Feb. 25 

1864, mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, re-enlisted as 

a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 



Mdnkok, J. Ai.hert, Capt., Providence, Iv. I. June 6, 1861, commissioned; 
June 6, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as 1st Lieut. Battery A; Sept. 
7, 1.S61, commissioned Captain, mustered in as such to date from Sept. 7, 
i.SOi,and assigned to llattery D; Oct. 24, 1862, promoted Major; Oct. 29, 
1S62, resigned as Captain to accept promotion. 

ModKK, John, Priv., Westerly, R. I. P^eb. 24, 1862, enrolled; Feb. 25, 1S64, 
mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, re-enlisted as a \et. 
Vol. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 27, 1864, until Oct., 1864; 
July 17, 1S65 mustered out. 

MoRc.VN, Fi)\v.\Ri), Priv.. North Kingstown, K. L ( )ct. 13, 1862, enrolled; Oct. 
13, 1862, mustered in. Deserted, date not shown. 

AIoKiiAX, MiCH.\Ei., Priv., Richmond, R. I. Oct. 13, 1862, enrolled; (Jet. 13, 
1862, mustered in. Deserted, date not shown. 

MoRRELL, Joseph, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 5, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

MULRK, Ch.\ri.es a., Priv., Providence, R. 1. July 19, 1S62, enrolled; PJec. 6, 
1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R. I. 

Nicholas, L\man, Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in; P'eb. 19, 1864, ordered on special duty as teamer. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital from July 16, 1864, until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, 
discharged at Charlestown, Va. 

NicKER.sox, David R., Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, on extra duty at hospital, and so borne until 
May, 1862. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 13, 1862, until Nov. 
16, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Fort McHenry. 

Nichols, Edward L., Sergt. Aug. 11, 1862, enrolled at Falmouth, Va.; Aug. 
II, 1S62, mustered in. Originally servctl as private; June i, 1863, promoted 
1st Lieut. Va. Arty.; June 14, 1863, discharged by reason of promotion. 

NoRKis, PiRADLEV J., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. Borne 
as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 28, 1863, until Jan. 3, 1864, when he 
(lied of disease at camp near Blaine's Cross Roads, Tenn. 

Cakes, William A., Priv., Providence, R. 1. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded and borne as absent sick until 
Dec, 1862; borne as absent sick in hospital, probably wounded, from Nov. 
27. 1863, until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, 
Va. 



1 72 

Oglesby, Samuel S., Priv., Providence, K.I. Sept. 4,1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1S61, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. \'ol. Borne as absent 
on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 
Also borne as Samuel I. 

O'RouRKE, John, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; April 10, 1862, discharged on .Surgeon's certificate, at 
Camp near Bristoe, Va. 

O'ROURKE, Mathew, Priv., Pro\idence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; May 10, 1862, left in hospital at Upton's Hill, Va.; May 
26, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's cerlificate. 

Parker, Ezra K., 2d Lieut., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 7, 1861, commissioned; 
Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Nov. 30, 1862, mustered out and re-commis- 
sioned 2d Lieut., by Governor of Rhode Island same day; again mustered 
in to date Dec. 15, 1862. Borne on detached service at Kno.wille, 
Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; March, 1864, absent with leave; 
April 23, 1864, mustered out by reason of promotion to 1st Lieut. Bat- 
tery E. 

Parmextkr, Orange S., Corp., Providence, R. L Sept. -j, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 10, 1862, discharged on .Surgeon's certificate, at 
Camp Dupont, Va. 

Peckham, William S., Priv., Wakefield, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; June, 1862, on extra duty as teamster, and so borne 
until Oct., 1862. Borne as absent sick from Oct. 30, 1862, until Dec, 1862; 
Feb. 28, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R. L 

Perez, Joseph, Priv. Jan. 2, 1863, enrolled at Providence, R. L; Jan. 2, 1863, 
mustered in; July 12, 1863, deserted at Nicholasville, Ky. 

Phetteplace. D.wid, Priv. Dec. 21, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. L; Dec. 
21, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Phillips, George G., Priv., Providence, R. L July 21, 1862, enrolled; Sept. 
13, 1862, deserted at New Market, Md. Also borne as George V. 

Phinney, Thomas R., Priv., Providence, R. L Sept. 4, 1S62, enrolled; .Sept 
19, 1864, wounded in action near Winchester, Va., sent to hospital and boine 
as absent sick until May 19, 1865, when mustered out from United States 
General Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pa. 

Pickering, D.a.niel, Priv., Scituate, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Sept. 2, 1862, until Dec. 
6, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Philadelphia. 



'73 

Pierce, William T. I'liv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \"et. Vol.; July 17, 1865^ 
mustered out. 

PiNKiiAM, Charles II., Priv., Providence, R. I. Nov. 7, 1864, enrolled; Nov. 
7, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Pitcher, Joseph S., Priv., Providence, R. 1. July 12, 1862, enrolled; April 21, 

1864, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Lovell General Hospital, Ports- 
mouth Grove, R. I., by reason of injuries received while on duty at Freder- 
icksburg, Va., Dec, 1862. 

Place, John E., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in; Nov. 20, 1863, transferred to Co. G, 1st Regt. V. K. C; Nov. 
14, 1865, mustered out as of Co. G, 1st Regt. \'. R. C. 

Place, Joseph B., Priv., West Greenwich, R. I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; 
Aug. 23. 1862, mustered in. Transferred to Battery B, previous to Oct. 31, 
1862. 

PoLLAKi), JdiiN, Jr., Priv., Cranston, R. I, Feb. 20, 1862, enrolled. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital from June 29, 1862, until July 31, 1S62, when dis- 
charged on Surgeon's certificate, at Fredericksburg, Va. 

Pott?:r, Frank A., Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action at Antietam. No fur- 
ther record. 

Pratt, Aluert F., n. M. Sergt. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 
Sept. 4, 1 86 1, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; promoted Sergt. 
Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until 
Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. \'ol.; Oct. 19, 1864, wounded 
at Cedar Creek, \'a., and borne as absent sick in hospital until April 13. 

1865, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Baltimore, Md. 
Pratt. Henr\' B., Priv. Sept. 28, 1861, transferred from Battery C; Oct. 7, 

1863, tiansferred to 19th Co., 2d Bat. \. R. C; Oct. 25, 1864, mustered out 
as of the same. 
R.\GAN, William H., Priv. Oct. 26, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Oct. 
26, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

R.\THi!ONE, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R. I. March 4, 1864, enrolled; March 
4, 1864, mustered in; Oct. 19, 1864, captured at Cedar Creek, Va.; March, 
1865, released at N. E. F"erry, N. C; subsequently reported at Camp Parole, 
Md.; May 3, 1865, sent to Camp Distribution, \'a.; June 23, 1865, mus- 
tered out at Winchester, \ a. 



174 

RawsoiN, Samuel G., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 5, 1861, discharged at Regimental Hospital. 
Rector, John H., Priv., North Kingstov^n, R. I. Sept. 13. 1862, enrolled; Sept. 

13, 1862, mustered in. No further record. 
Reminoton, Chari.es R., Priv., Providence, R. I. Aug. 25, 1861, enrolled; 

Aug. 27, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 25, 1864, mustered out at Halltown, Va. 
Reynolds, Thomas J., Corp. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 

4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on furlough of twenty days from June 14, 1863. 

Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn.. from Dec. 8, 1863, until 

Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mu.stered 

out. 
Rhodes, Francis W., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan. 12, 1S62, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at 
Camp Dupont, \'a. 

Rhodes, \VlLLL4M B., ist Lieut. Dec. 26, 1862, transferred from Battery G. 

Commanding Battery from May 10, 1863, until June, 1863; March, 1864, 

absent with leave. Mustered out to date April 7, 1864, to accept promotion 

as Captain Battery E. 
Rice, John E., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne until May 12, 

1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate. 

Rice, William T., Priv., Warwick, R. T. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 10, 1861, until 
March 25, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at General Hos- 
pital, Alexandria, \'a. 

Richardson, James A., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from May 21, 

1863, until Aug., 1863. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., 
from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; 
July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Rider, Hugh, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 
1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. \'ol. Borne on 
furlough of ten days from June 27, 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

RoBBiNS, Duty, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Aug. 14, 1862, enrolled; Sept. 17, 1862, 
missing in action at Antietam. No further record. 

RoBER, John, Priv. Transferred from Battery H; March 10, 1863, deserted at 
Newport News, \'a. 



1/5 

Ross, David G., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Ross, JoiiN M., Priv. Oct. 18, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; July 17, 
1865, mustered out. Also borne as John M. Rose. 

Russell, Francis, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 4, 
l86i, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in notion at Antietam. No fur- 
ther record. 

RrsSELL, Isaac D., Priv., South Kingstown, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. Vol.; July 17, 
1S65. mustered out. 

Samameco, Josei'H, Priv. Dec. 30, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Feb. 
10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. 

Schmidt, I. Jacob, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from June 22, 1863, 
until ( )ct. 31, 1S63, when transferred to 43d Co., 2d Bat. \'. R. C; re-trans- 
ferred to Battery D, by order dated Aug. 8, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered 
out at Charlestown, \'a. 

Shaw, David, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at Falmouth, Va., from May 
18, 1862, until Aug., 1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 

Sheldon, Charles B., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action, and borne as absent 
sick until Jan. 16, 1863, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

Shoirdon, Robert, Priv., Lonsdale, R. 1. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1 861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 24, 1863, 
until Jan. 25, 1864, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Lovell 
General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R. L 

Slocum, Isa.ac p., Priv., Westerly, R. L Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; June 7, 1862, 
left in hospital at camp near Haymarket, Va., and borne as absent sick until 
Oct. ID, 1862, when dropped from rolls. No further record. 

Smith, David, Priv., Westerly, R. I. Aug. 16, 1862, enrolled; Sept. 17, 1862, 
missing in action at Antietam. No further record. 

Smith, Henry W., Bugler, North Providence, R. L Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; 
Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from March 21, 1863, until 
May, 1863; Jan 30, 1S64, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mus- 
tered out 



Smith, Israel S., Priv., Providence, R. I. Nov. 22, 1S64, enrolled; Nov. 22, 
1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Smith, William G., Priv. Dec. 22, 1S62, transferred from Battery H; Sept. 
19, 1864, wounded in action near Winchester, Va., sent to hospital and 
borne as absent sick until June 19, 1865, when mustered out from United 
States Army Hospital, York, Pa. 

Smith, William R., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 21, 1863, 
until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Spear, John W. , Priv., Richmond, R. I. Aug. 9, 1862, enrolled. Borne as 
absent sick from April 5, 1863, until May 26, 1863, when he deserted from 
United States Hospital, Cincinnati; July 17, 1863, returned from deser- 
tion; Jan. 14, 1864, deserted at Blaine's Cross Roads, Tenn. 

Spencer, Gideon, Sergt., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a 
Vet. Vol. Discharged to date April 28, 1864, by reason of promotion to 2d 
Lieut. Battery B. 

Stalker, William, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1 861, mustered in ; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded at the battle of Bull Run; Sept. 
3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. 

Steinhaur, Kirhy, 1st Lieut. Feb. 8, 1863, commissioned; April 14, 1863, 
promoted from 2d Lieut. Battery H. Borne on leave of absence for thirty 
days from Oct. 22, 1863; March, 1864, absent with leave; April 19, 1864, 
resigned. 

Stickney, Daniel, Priv. Regimental return for Dec, 1862, reported him 
" Dropped Dec. 21, 1862, by G. O. 15, ist A. C." No additional informa- 
tion found. 

Stillman, Gideon S., Corp., Warwick, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Borne on extra duty as 
teamster from March 1, 1863, until May, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as 
a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Stinson, James, Priv. Transferred from Battery B, by order dated Jan. i, 1862; 
Sept. 13, 1862, deserted at New Market, Md. 

St. John, John, Corp., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a 
Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Stollard, George F., Priv. October 31, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. L; 
Oct. 31, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 



177 

Sullivan, Jkkkmiah, Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
l86l, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 7, 1863, until 
March 1S64; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestovvn, Va. 

SiLLiVAN, J()]1N, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Sept. 4, 
1S61, mustered in; Sept., 1862, in General Hospital; Oct., iS62,on detached 
service at Div. Hdiirs., and so borne until March, 1S63; April, 1863, de- 
serted. 

Sumner, Geukck C, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4. 
1 861, mustered in ; .Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, ^'a. 

SuNDKKLANi), Hknky A., Corp., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 5, 1S62, discharged on .Surgeon's certificate, at 
Washington, D. C, by reason of injuries received when entering battle of 
Antietam. 

SuTTDN, Henry L., Priv., Bristol, R. I. Dec. 31, 1864, enrolled; Dec. 31, 1864, 
mustered in ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Swan, Wujjam, Priv., Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at Fredericksburg, \ a., from 
July 13, 1862, until Sept. 22, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 
at Cranch Hospital, Wa.shington, D. C. 

Taft, Anthony, Priv., Woonsocket, R. I. Nov. 28, 1864, enrolled; Nov. 28, 
1864, mustered in ; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Taft, Ch.vrles CJ., Priv., I'rovidence, R. I. Se[)t. 4, 1861, enrolled; .Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; April 24, 1863, deserted at Lexington, Ky. 

Tanner, David B., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in. Borne .ns absent sick in hospital from Oct. 15, 1861, 
until March, 1862; April 7, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at 
Washington, D. C. 

Tanner, James, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne on detached service at Kno.wille, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 
1863, until Ian. 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a \'et. ^'ol. Borne on 
furlough of ten days from March 20, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Thornley, Willl^M II., Artificer, Providence, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; 
Sept. 4. 1 861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 13, 

1862, until ( )ct. 30, 1S62, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Fort 
McHenry 

Till ri;kk, Edwin I., I'riv., Johnston, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Sept. 28, 1861, transferred to Battery C Mustered in as 
Edward 1. Thurber. 



178 

TiKEETTS, J. R., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in; Nov. 12, 1861, discharged at Camp Dupont, Va. 

Troutay, Alexander, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 
5, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Tucker, Frank M., Sergt. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R. ].; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted 
as a Vet. Vol.; June 12, 1865, commissioned 2d Lieut., for gallant and 
meritorious service during the war; never mustered in; July 17, 1865, mus- 
tered out. 

Ty.son, John, Priv., Portsmouth, R. I. Aug. 6, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 6, 1862, 
mustered in; June 23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, Va. 

Underwood, William J., Priv., Scituate, R. T. Aug. 14, 1862, enrolled; Dec. 
27,1862, deserted at P^almouth, Va.; Jan. 10, 1863, joined from desertion, 
tried by G. C. M., and sentenced to be dishonorably discharged. 

ViCKERY, William H., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, i86i, enrolled; Sept. 4, 

1861, mustered in; Jan. 3. 1862, injured by a fall from his horse; May 3, 

1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Philadelphia, Pa. 

Wagg, Charles, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 30, 
1864, mustered in. Borne as sick in hospital from June 3, 1S65, until July, 
1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Walker, Clark, Artificer, Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted 
as a \'et. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Warner, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R. I. March 25, 1864, enrolled; April 
20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 

Warren, Charles W., Sergt., Lonsdale, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Aug., 1862, in General 
Hospital, and so borne undl Nov., 1862; Jan. 30, 1864, re enlisted as a Vet. 
Vol. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; June 25, 1865, 
promoted Sergt. from Corp.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Waterman, Frank A., Sergt., Providence, R. L Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 
4, 1861 mustered in; Jan. I, 1862, promoted Corp. Borne on detached 
service at Kno.wille, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 
1864, re-enlisted as a Net. \ol ; July 14, 1864, discharged to accept promo- 
tion as 2d Lieut. Battery G. 

Watson, Charles H. Priv., Coventry, R. I. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at Camp near Falmouth Sta- 
tion, Va. 



T79 

Way. John, Priv., Westerly, R. I. J"eb. 24, 1862. enrolled; Feb. 25, 1864, 
mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, re-enlisted as a Net. 
\'oI. llorne as absent sick in hospital from June 24 1864, until Oct., i8()4; 
July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

W'kiih, KiiWAKD J., Priv., North Providence, R. 1. Aui;. 8, 1802, enrolled; June 
2, 1863, died at Somerset, Ky., of disease. 

Wekdkn, IIknrv M., Priv., Bristol, R. I. March 30, 1864, enrolled; April 20, 
1864, mustered in; Nov. 12, 1864, detached for service at Ikkjrs. Art. Brig. 
19th Army Corps; July 17, 1865, mustered out. 

Wkish, Gp:or(;k, Priv. Aug. 14, 1863, enrolled. Borne as absent sick in hos- 
pital from March 5, 1864, until Oct. 5, 1864, when discharged on Surgeon's 
certificate, at Cincinnati, ( )hio. Also borne as Weist. 

Westcott, J.\MKS, Priv. Dec. 22. 1862, transferred from Battery H. Borne as 
sick in hospital from April 6, 1S65, until June 19, 1S65, when mustered out 
at Jarvis L nited States General Hospital. 

^^"nlPl'I.K, Bknia.min N., Corp., Pro\idence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Originally served as Artificer; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded; 
Sept. 17, 1862, wounded in action at Antietam and borne as absent sick until 
Feb., 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Sept. 19, 1864, 
wounded near Winchester. \'a.; July 17, 1805, mustered out. 

WiiiiWKEK, Henry C, Priv., Cranston, R. 1. Sept. 4 1S61, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from -\ug. 22, 1862, until Dec, 
1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, \'a. 

WiiiiK, Henry J., Priv., Lonsdale, R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1S61, 
mustered in; March 10, 1862, left in hospital at I'pton's Hill, \a.., and borne 
as sick in hospital until April 24, 1862, when discharged on .Surgeon's certifi- 
cate, because of injuries received while in service. 

Wi( KEN, Rice A., Priv , Warwick, R. 1. Sept. 4, 18C1, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 
mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at Fredericksburg, \'a., from 
June 29, 1862, until Sept., 1862; March, 1863, absent sick in hospital and 
so borne until Aug. 21, 1863, when transferred to the 30th Co., 2d Bat. \'. 
R. C; Sept. 5, 1864, mustered out at Fort Monroe, Va. as Sergt. 30th Co., 
2d Bat. V. R. C. 

WiEiu'R, (;e<iri;e W., Priv., Warwick, R. I. Sept. 4, i8(:)i, enrolled; Sept. 4, 
1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, absent sick; Dec 15, 1861, returned to duty. 
Borne as absent sick in hospital from .'X.pril 14, 1863, until Sejjt. 20, 1863, 
when transferred to Co. B, 20th Reg. \ . R. C; Sept. 12, 1864, mustered 
out as of Co. B 20th Reet. V. R. C. 



i8o 

W00LI.EY, John, Priv., Scituate. R. I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, 

mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until Feb., 1863; 

Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Oct. 19, 1864, wounded in action 

near Cedar Creek, Va., and borne as absent sick in hospital until July 26, 

1865, when mustered out. 
WoOLLEY, Samuel, Priv. Nov. 25, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R. I.; Nov. 25, 

1864, mustered in; July 17, 1S65, mustered out. 
Wrightington, James H., Priv. Sept. 4, 1S61, enrolled at Providence, R. I. 

Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Oct. i, 1861, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 

at Camp Sprague, Washington, D. C. 



This Roster was taken from the Revised Adjutant General's Report of this 
State. There were several members of the Battery who were Sergeants or Cor- 
porals during part of their service. 

Edward H. Mattesox was First Sergeant for quite a long time; 

Stephen Ballou was Corporal and Sergeant for at least two years of his 
service; 

Reuben D. Dodge and 

Charles H. Kennlson were Sergeants. 

Charles Gallagher, 

Edward McKennan, and 

Isaac D. Ru.ssell, served as Corporals. 
Those above named are all that I can remember for a certainty. Without 
doubt there were others. The reason that they were not credited with that part 
of their service was (as before stated in this work) that all our books were cap- 
tured at Cedar Creek, and the new books only showed those that were serving 
at the time. 



COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, 

AND TIMK OF SKRVICK WITH HATTKKV D. 

J. Albert Monroe, Capt., Sept. 7, 1861, to Oct. 21, 1862. 
William W. Buckley, Capt., Nov. i, 1862, to Oct. 23, 1864. 
Elmer L. Corthei.l, Capt., Nov. 23, 1864, to July 17, i8()5. 
Georce C. Harkness, ist Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to March 3, 1863. 
Henry R. Gladding., ist Lieut , Sept. 9, i86i,to Aug. i, 1862. 
Wii.iJAM B. Rhodes, ist Lieut., Dec. 26, 1862, to April 7, 1864. 
KiRiiY Steinhaur, 1st Lieut., April 14, 1863, to April 19, 1864. 
Frederick Chase, 2d and ist Lieut., Dec. 4, 1862, to July 17, 1865. 
Stei'HEN W. Fisk, 2d Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to Dec. 4, 1862. 
Ezra K. Parker, 2d Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to April 23, 1864. 
Charles E. Bonn, 2d Lieut., May 4, 1864, to July 17, 1865. 
Charles C. (Jray, 2d Lieut., May 27, 1864, to July 17, 1865. 



ENLISTED MEN COMMISSIONED 



FROM HA'I'IERY D. 



1st Sergt. Henry Royal Lee, to be 2d Lieut. Battery C. 
Sergt. Gideon Spencer, to be 2d Lieut. Battery B. 
Sergt. Charles C. Gray, to be 2d Lieut. Battery D. 
Sergt. Frank A. Waterman, to be 2d Lieut. Battery G. 
Sergt. Edward L. Nichols, to be 2d Lieut. First N'irginia Art. 
Sergt. Frank M. Tucker, commissioned but never mustered. 



ROLL OF MEN 
TEMPORARILY ATTACHED. 



Allen, Erasmus, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A.; 

Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. 
Arnold, Philo, Priv. Detached from 35th N. Y. Inf., from May 29, 1S62, until 

Dec. 31, 1862. 
Austin, EDW.\Rr> G., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detaclied from Battery A, ist Mass. 

L. A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9ih Mass. Battery. 
Barber, Amos P., Priv. Detached from Co. C, 7th R. I. Vols. Borne on de- 
tached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan , 1864; 

Dec. 10, 1864, returned to 7th R. I. Vols., by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Barker, Albert, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols.; May 

II, 1865, returned to his regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated May 

8, 1865. 
Barney, Marshall, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from I75ih N. Y. \'ols. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 28, 1864, until Jan , 1865; May 

1 1, 1865, returned to his regiment at Winchester, Va., by special order dated 

May 8, 1865. 
Bashee, Eli, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols.; May 11, 

1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated May 8, 1865. 
Bauer, John C, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from Co. M, 14th N. Y. H. A. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1864, until Dec, 1864; Dec. 

ID, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. Also 

borne as John C. Bonn. 



1 83 

Bearmsi.kv, Philo, Piiv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A. Borne 
as absent sick in hospital from July 12, 1864, until Dec, 1864; Dec. 10, 1864, 
returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 

Beck, William, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery I., 2d 
N. Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

1>1KD, Charles, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, transferred from Battery A, 1st Mass. L. A., 
by order dated Dec. 31, 1864; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Bat- 
tery by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 

Blanchard, John F., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. E, 7th R. I. \ols.; 
Feb. I, 1865, returned to regiment. 

BocARDUS, John, Priv. May 4. 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. II. A. Borne 
as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 24, 1S64, until Dec, 1864; Dec. 10, 

1864, returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1S64. 

Boon, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from iJSth N. Y. Vols.; May 11, 

1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated May 8, 1865. 

Boss, Joseph A., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. G, 7th R. I. \'ols.; 
Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 

Brill, Christian, Sr., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery 
L, 2d N. Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

Brill, Christian, Jr., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery 
L, 2d N. Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

BuRMAN, Ira, Priv. May 4, 1S64, detached from 14th N. Y. M. A. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1864, until C)ct., 1864; Dec. 10, 1864, 
returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 

Cameron, Donald, Priv. Jan. 15, 1S63, detached from i2tli R. I. \'ols.; July 
12, 1863, returned to regiment. 

Cai'RON, Ali'HEUS, Jr., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. \'ols.; 
May II, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May 8, 1865. 

Cakiunan, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A. Borne 
as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1S64, until Oct., 1864; Dec. 10, 1864, 
returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 

Carman, Silas, Priv. Aiiril iS, 1802, detached from Co. E, 7th Wis. Inf; 
March, 1864, returned to regiment. 

Chandler, James C, Priv. (Jet. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. \"ols.; 
May II, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May 8, 1865. 



i84 

Chatterson, Jesse, Priv. P'eb. i8, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 

2d N. Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Cleveland, Lundon, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; 

Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Cole, William, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; Dec. 10, 

1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Collins, William, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R. I. Vols. Absent 

on detached service at Knoxville. Tenn.,from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1S64; 

May I, 1864, died in Asylum HosjDital, Knoxville, Tenn. 
Coons, David S., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from I75lh N. Y. Vols., near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; Oct. 20, 1864, accidentally shot at Cedar Creek, Va. 
CovEL, MiLo, Priv. Detached from Co. G 7th Wis. Inf., from April 18, 1S62, 

until Aug., 1864. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 8, 1864, until Aug., 1864. 
Cunningham, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols.; 

May II, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va. 
Cushing, William S., Priv. Detached from Co. I, 6th Wis. Inf., from April 18, 

1862, until Aug., 1863; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action and borne as absent 
sick from that time until June, 1863. 

Davis, Alhert C, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from the 12th K. I. Inf.; July 
12, 1863, returned to regiment. 

Davis, Thomas, Priv. Detached from Co. B, 6th Wis. Inf. Borne as absent 
sick in General Hospital from Aug. 31, 1862, until Dec. 12, 1862, when dis- 
charged on Surgeon's certificate. 

Dehue, Fritz, Priv. Temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d N. Y. Art., by 
order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

DiNKiNS, William T., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. G, 20th Indp't 
Inf. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until July, 1863; Nov. 10, 

1863, slightly wounded at battle of Campbell's Station, Tenn.; Jan. 5, 1864, 
discharged and returned to regiment by reason of re-enlistment. 

DooLAN, Patrick, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. 

A.; transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
DoREMUs, William, Priv. Temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d N. Y. Art., 

by order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
DoRSAY, John, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R. 1. Inf.; Jan. 6, 1863, 

shot by a citizen at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky. 
Dunn, James N., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A.; 

Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. 



1 85 

DuNWELL, William, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th K. I. Inf.; July 

12, 1863, returned to regiment. 
DiTCHKR, William, Priv. Detached from Co. A, 2d Wis. Inf , from May 4, 

1862, until June, 1S64. 
Fannon, Joseph, Priv. Jan. 5, 1S65, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. L. A.; 

Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. 
Fitzgerald, John F., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. 

L. A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. 
FiHJERTY, Michael, Priv. Feb. iS 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 

N. Y. Art. 
Fox, Samuel W., Priv. (Jet. 15, 1864, temporarily detached from 175th N. Y. 

Vols. Borne as absent sick from Nov. 5, 1864, until Nov. 22, 1864, when 

he died in hospital at Winchester, Va. 
Gann, Isaac, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols.; May 11, 

1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Gardner, John, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A.; 

Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 

9> 1865. 
Graves, Leander W., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols. 

near Cedar Creek, \'a.; Dec. 21, 1864, died at Jarvis United States Army 

Hospital, Baltimore, Md., from effect of gunshot wound. 
Griffin, Joseph H., Jr., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R. I. Vols.; 

Dec. ID, 1864, returned to regiment. 
Griffiths, James, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from i7Sth N Y. \ols. near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Gyett, Lewis, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, \'a., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Marry, Charles E., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detaclied from 12th R. I. Vols. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 19, 1S63, until July, 1863; July 

12, 1863, returned to regiment. 
Hastings, Jhhn, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. 1, 7th Wis. Inf. 
Hawkins, Ori.a.ndo S., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. H, 2d Wis. Inf. 

Borne as absent sick from Aug. 22, 1862, until Dec. 21, 1862, when dropped 

from rolls. Joined, and borne as absent on detached service at Knoxville. 

Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864. 



1 86 

Hf.ad, Henry P., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R. I. Vols.; July 

12, 1863, returned to regiment. 
Helme, Anthony, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A. Borne 

as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19, 1864, until Dec, 1864; Dec. 10, 

1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Henon, William, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. 

A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Hill, Eben, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A., at 

Camp Sheridan, Va, ; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by 

special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Howes, George, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A. 

at Camp Sheridan, \'a.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by 

special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Hubbard, Franklin D., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. D, 6th Wis. Inf. 
Hudson, William J., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. 

L. A., at Camp Sheridan, \'a. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 

21, 1865; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special order 

dated Feb. 9, 1865. Also borne as N. L. Hudson. 
Johnston, Daniel, Priv. Feb 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery I,, 

2d N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Kellogg, McKendry, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; 

Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Knecht, John, Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from 12th R. I. Vols.; July 12, 1863, 

returned to regiment. 
LaFont, Louis, Priv. May, 1862, detached from Co. C, 2d Wis. Inf.; June 8, 

1863, killed by a fall at Lexington, Ky. 
LaFountain, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near 

Cedar Creek, \'a.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, \'a., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Laich, John T., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d 

N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Lampe, Christi.\n, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
Lanck, Alfred, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. \'ols., near 

Cedar Creek, \'a.\ May 1 1, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated 

May 8, 1865. 



1^7 

LaRockf, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from lysih N. Y. Vols., near 
Cedar Creek, \'a.; May li, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, \'a., 
Iiy special order dated May 8. 1865. 

L.vRdSK, John, I'riv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near 
Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1S65, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 
by special order dated May 8, 1865. 

LeM.w, Pki kr, I'riv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. Art., at 
Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to the 9th Mass. Battery by 
special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 

Lewis, Fr.\NK, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery I-, 2d 
N. V. Art., at Kno.wille, 'I'enn., l)y special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

M.A.i.\, John W., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. L. A., 
at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by 
special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 

M.\IN, JosEi'H H.. Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, transferred from Battery A, 1st Mass. Art., 
at Camp Sheridan, \'a.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by 
special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 

M.M.oNK, Joii.x, Priv. May 4, 1S64, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A. Borne as 
absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19. 1864, until Dec, 1S64; Dec. 10, 1864, 
returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 

M.VLoNEY, D.VNIEI., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from 15attery L, 
2d N. W Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 

M.\RSH.\LL, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. V. H. A.; Dec. 
10, 1S64, rejoined his regiment at ( )pequan Creek, \'a., by special order dated 
Dec. 3, 1864. 

M.A.TTESON, RoKERT F. , Priv. Jan. 14, 1S63, detached from 12th R. I. Vols.; 
July 12. 1863, returned to regiment. 

Mei.\in, Edward, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near 
Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated 
May 8, 1865, at Winchester, Va. 

Miller, Georce, Priv. May 4, 1S64, detached from 14th N. V. H. A.; Dec. 
10, 1864, returned to regiment at < )pequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 
Dec. 3, 1864. 

MiLLETT, (iEORiiE L. , Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. 
L. A., at Camp Sheridan, \'a.; Jan. 22, 1865, died of disease at Stephen- 
son, \'a. 



i8S 

Mills, Leander P". , Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. C, 19th Ind. Inf. 

Also borne as Frederick Mills. 
Mitchell, Stephen D. W., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R. I. 

Vols.; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. 
Moffatt, George, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. \'ols., near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Moore, George, Priv. Sept. 16, 1863, detached from ist Tenn. Battery, at 

Knoxville; Sept. 19, 1863, deserted at New Market. 
Moore, Ira, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. L. A., at 

Camp Sheridan, Va., and borne as absent on detached service at Hdqrs. M. 

M. Div., until Feb., 1865; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by special order dated Feb. 9, 1S65. 
Morse, George, Artificer. Jan. 5, 1865, detached as private from Battery A, 

1st Mass. L. A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th 

Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
MuNDON, HoSEA, Priv. April 21, 1863, detached from Battery C, 7th Wis. Inf.; 

June, 1863, returned to regiment. 
Murphy, David S., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. 

A., at Camp Sheridan, Va ; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Narrow, Joseph, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near 

Cedar Creek, Va ; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by 

special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Nash, Richard, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. F, 19th Indpt. Inf. 
Nott, Peter, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., near Cedar 

Creek, Va.; May li, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, \'a., by special 

order dated May 8, 1865. Also borne as Noll and Kott. 
Palmer, Samuel, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 

2d N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn , by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Parker. Horace I., Priv. May 4, 1S64, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1864. 
Peterson, Thomas, Priv. Aug. 17, 1863, detached from looth Ohio Vols., at 

Stanford; Feb., 1864, returned to regiment at Knoxville, Tenn. 
Pettis, David, Priv. Jan. 17, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d 

N. \. Art., at Strawberry Plains. Also borne as Pettit. 



i8q 

Pickett, Ekastus, Priv. Oct. 15. 1864, detached from 175th N. V. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, \a. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Nov. 16. 1864, until 

Nov. 24, 1864, when he died at Winchester, \'a. 
Pi)i.L.\Ri), [OUN, Priv. Jan. 15, 1865, detached from 12th R. 1. \ ols,; July 10, 

1863, returned to regiment. 
Potter, Fr.\nki,in 11., Priv. Dec, 1863, detached from 7th R. I. Vols.; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1864. 
Prouty, Robert A., Priv. Jan. 5. 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. 

L. A., at Camp Sheridan, \'a.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
R.\NEY, John, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R. I. \ols.; July 12, 

1863, returned to regiment. 
Rathbone, George, Priv. Jan. 15, 1S63, detached from 7th R. I. Vols.; Dec. 

10, 1S64, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864, at Ope- 
quan Creek, \ a. 
Reed, Ch.-VRLES, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. A, 6th Wis. Inf. 
Rencie, S.A.MUEL, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. Y. H. A.; Dec. 

ID, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1864. Also borne as Resign. 
Rhodes, Charles G., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. \ols. 

near Cedar Creek, Va ; May il, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, 

Va , by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Rue, Richard M., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. V. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May II, 1S65, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Richards, George, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 

2d N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864, and 

borne as absent sick in hospital until March, 1864. 
Ridiker, Theodore, Priv. Aug. 16, 1863, detached from 103d Ohio Vol. Inf, 

at Danville, Ky.; March 11, 1864, transferred to 104th Ohio Vol. Inf. 
Rogers, Silas, Priv. Oct. 15, 1S64, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
RosELLE, William, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, Va. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Nov. 23, 1864, until 

Jan., 1865; May ii, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by special 

order dated May 8, 1865. 



I go 

RoWLiiY, George W., Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N Y. H. A.; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1S64. 
Russell, John B., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols., at 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by 

special order dated May 8, 1865. 
ScHWAMB, Charles, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. 

A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Seymour, John N. , Priv. Detached from Co. B, 2d Wis. Inf., from May 2, 1862, 

until April 18, 1S64. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 12, 1863, 

until Dec, 1863. 
Shannon, Edward, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. 

A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery 

by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Smith, John H., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. L. A., 

at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by 

special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. 
Smith, Reuben, Priv. Aug. 17, 1863, detached from 103d Ohio Inf Borne as 

in hospital from April 26, 1864, until May, 1864; June 19, 1865, returned to 

regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated June 17, 1865. 
SoMERS, John, Priv. Reported as temporarily detached from 12th R. I. Vols.; 

returned to regiment, term of service having expired. Name not borne on 

rolls of 1 2th R. I. Vols. 
Stamford, William, Priv. Feb. iS, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery 

L, 2d N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Starkweather, Melvin M., Priv. Temporararily detached from Co. D, 7th 

Wis. Inf. 
Steinberg, Surgen, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery 

L, 2d N. Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, 

1864. 
Sullivan, Patrick, Priv. Temporarily detached from 19th or 20th Ind. Inf 
SuTLiFF, James, Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from Co. C, 12th R. I. Vols.; July 

12, 1863, returned to regiment. 
Taylor, Charles, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. Y. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, Va. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19, 1864, until 

Nov. II, 1864, when he died at York, Pa. 



191 

Terry, Maurice, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. H, 7th R. I. Vols. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from Sept. i, 1864, until Dec. 10, 1S64 

when returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. 
TiERNV, jiiHN, Priv. Jan. 17, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d 

N. V. Art. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Feb. 20, 1864, until March, 

1864. 
ToL.^ND, JiiHN, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th X. V. \'ols. near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May II, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
TrcKERMAX, James F., Priv. Jan. 15, 1S63, detached from Co. C, 7th R. I. Vols. 

Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 29. 1863, until Aug., 1863; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1864. 
\'osi:i'R(;, Ira, Priv. May 4, 1S64, detached from 14th X. V. H. A.; Dec. 10, 

1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864, nt Opequan 

Creek, Va. 
Wariii;ui;er, T\i«;>h, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. V. H. A.; 

Dec. 10, 1S64, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va. Also borne as 

I. Waldberger. 
Warner, Harmhn, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N. V. Vols, near 

Cedar Creek, Va.; May li, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., 

by special order dated May 8, 1865. 
Wea\ EK, c;eorc;e, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. V. H. A.; Dec. 

10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek. Va., by special order dated 

Dec. 3, 1864. 
Weaver, (Iecirce H., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 12th R. F \'ols. 

Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until March 15, 1863, when dis- 
charged for disability from (General Hospital. 
Wehb, George A., Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from i2ih R. I. Vols.; July 12, 

1S63, returned to regiment. 
Werner, Frederk k, Sergt. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery 

L, 2d N. V. Art., at Kno.wille, Tenn., by order dated Jan. 16, 1S64. 
Wheei.ock, CHARLE.S C. , Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist 

Mass. L. A., at Camp Siieridan, \'a.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. 

Battery, by order dated leb. 9, 1865. 
Will 1 NEV, Henry, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N. \'. H. A.; Dec. 10. 

lS()4, returned to regiment at ( »pecjuan Creek, Va. 



192 

Wick, George, Priv. April 24, 1862, detached from Co. K, 2d Wis. Inf.; Feb. 

2, 1865, mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service. 
W^iLHELM, J"HX, Priv. Feb. iS, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery L, 

2d N. V. Art., at Knoxville. Tenn., by order dated Jan. 16, 1864. 
Wilson, Daniel G., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, ist Mass. 

L. A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special order dated 

Feb. 9, 1865. 
W'INSOR, Chauncey a., Corp. Temporarily detached from Co. A, 6th Wis. Inf. 
WoRDEN, Charles H., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th K. I. Vols.; 

Feb. 18, 1863, died of disease in Hampton General Hospital. 




